(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-07 19:58

WELLINGTON - New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said the New-Zealand Free Trade Agreement provided a new platform for growing business and investment links with China, describing the signing as "a very significant achievement."

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark [Xinhua]

In a written interview with Xinhua, Clark said the New Zealand-China ties have been in very good health since the two countries established full diplomatic relations in 1972. Both governments have worked to increase dialogue on a range of important regional and international issues.

The New Zealand prime minister, accompanied by a 150-member trade delegation, arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a three-day official visit. She witnessed the signing of the FTA in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Monday, along with her Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao.

In the interview, Clark said she was confident that the broad- based relationship between New Zealand and China will be further strengthened by the signing of the FTA.

"We want to work with our Chinese friends to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for our two countries. Our success will help raise awareness and understanding and create new opportunities to work together," said Clark.

"This is a very important outcome for New Zealand," Clark said. "It demonstrates that we can work effectively with one of the world's major economies."

It also highlighted China's ability to engage with and to negotiate a high quality FTA with a developed economy, she added.

The FTA will open up new economic opportunities for New Zealand business in China and boost their existing commercial links, and create new investment possibilities in both directions, she said.

"It should also assist in raising the commercial profile for New Zealand companies in China, especially since New Zealand is the first developed country to conclude a comprehensive FTA with China," said the New Zealand prime minister.

Clark said New Zealand offers an open investment environment and a good number of Chinese interests have already pursued opportunities across a wide front. "I am sure that we will see further high quality Chinese investment interest as a result of the FTA."

Clark hoped for more Chinese visitors to New Zealand, saying Air New Zealand's direct flights between Shanghai and Auckland were very popular.

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