Trade agreements bring Oceania closer to Beijing

Recent visits to China by top leaders from Australia and New Zealand could be seen as indications of those countries striving for a larger share of the Chinese market in agricultural goods, animal husbandry and tourism, experts said.

Last month, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key made his sixth visit to China, just one week after Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's trip to Beijing.

Both prime ministers had similar agendas: meeting Premier Li Keqiang, signing agreements to boost cooperation in education and other fields, and helping delegations of businessmen from back home find opportunities to work with Chinese companies and increase profits.