China News Service, February 5th. Recently, the New Zealand China News Agency Auckland quoted the New Zealand China Relations Promotion Council (NZCC) as saying that Kong Sida, executive director of the New Zealand China Relations Promotion Council and former New Zealand Consul General in Chengdu, published online the title "In 2023 Keeping pace with China" article.

　　Kong Sida reviewed the changes and development of China in the past few years, and pointed out that China has not "stagnated" and will not "stand still".

He believes that New Zealand should also avoid complacency, focus on China's future development prospects, increase exchanges between the two sides, and continue to explore bilateral cooperation.

Pictured is Kong Sida.

Photo source: New Zealand Council for the Promotion of China Relations official website

Strengthen exchanges and keep pace with China

　　Kong Sida first pointed out that at the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit, New Zealand needs to enhance relations with China as soon as possible and strengthen exchanges with China.

　　He said that after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, some new domestic and foreign policy directions will witness China's continued development and changes.

In addition, as China optimizes and adjusts epidemic prevention and control and entry-exit policies, China is expected to soon enter a period of rapid social and economic recovery.

　　Kong Sida pointed out that the political relationship between New Zealand and China is the basis of bilateral exchanges.

The New Zealand Government places emphasis on discussing and managing differences in a predictable and respectful manner, while focusing on opportunities for cooperation.

A constructive meeting between the two leaders in Bangkok in November 2022 bodes well for developments.

　　Consta has noticed recent changes in leadership in both New Zealand and China.

Governments around the world will begin to build relationships and engagements with their new counterparts in China, and the arena will only get busier.

New Zealand should do the same, although New Zealand leaders travel less in the run-up to the election, leaving the window for travel in 2023 small but must remain open.

Keep in touch and understand the changes in China

　　In the article, Kong Sida also pointed out that New Zealand needs to understand how China has changed.

　　In recent years, China has not stood still.

In fact, in 2020 and 2021, China has once again helped the New Zealand economy through a challenging period.

Among them, New Zealand's exports to China will increase by 19.8% in 2021, and its imports will increase by 26%.

　　Changes in cities and villages, consumers, manufacturers and investors are also developing at "China speed": In the past three years, China has developed more in terms of society, economy, technology, infrastructure, etc. than New Zealand in the same period.

　　Kong Sida believes that although some well-known New Zealand companies in China have been keeping up with trends and developments, many New Zealand companies have not really contacted China for three years.

　　CEOs, board members and market managers in key industries need to make it a priority to visit China as early as possible to enhance engagement and understand first-hand how market strategies need to adjust to the challenges and opportunities China faces in 2023 and beyond.

Cooperative innovation, focusing on China's future development prospects

　　Kong Sida said that just as New Zealand should not be misunderstood as a "big farm", it should avoid resting on its laurels and continue to explore bilateral cooperation.

　　A recent report by the website Science shows that China has become one of the world's leading innovators.

Leading the way in research, technology and more.

China is the world's largest producer of electric vehicles (EVs) and EV batteries, as well as solar and wind machinery, green technologies New Zealand needs.

Joint research between New Zealand and China is taking place in a number of areas, and the scope is astounding.

　　Most importantly, New Zealand should go beyond the interference of short-term news and focus on China's medium- and long-term development and future prospects.

New Zealand needs to start looking at where China might be in the next two or 10 years.

One thing is clear - China will not stand still.

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