Amid the US-China trade war, what are China's trade priorities - and what might this mean for New Zealand's own priorities?

The Asia Media Centre invites journalists to join us for a breakfast discussion with New Zealand trade policy experts who have recently returned from China.

In early September, the Asia New Zealand Foundation led a trade policy delegation to Beijing and Shanghai. The participating experts heard China's views on the challenges facing the multilateral trading system, particularly the WTO; developments in the regional economic architecture, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), APEC, and our bilateral FTA with China; and updates on China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

Seating is limited for this event so be sure to register.

SPEAKERS:

HON JOHN LUXTON

Chair, Asia New Zealand Foundation

John Luxton served as a member of the Foundation’s board of trustees in 2001 and 2002 and returned as Chairman in 2015. He was formerly chairman of Dairy New Zealand, a director of Tatua and is also co-chair of the Waikato River Authority. He served for 15 years as a member of parliament and was a cabinet minister for nine years, holding numerous ministerial positions, including Minister of Agriculture. Before being elected to Parliament in 1987 he provided consultancy services in Asia, Africa and the Pacific.

STEPHANIE HONEY

Associate Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum

Stephanie Honey is a consultant on trade policy and strategy, drawing on 20 years’ experience in the public and private sectors. Stephanie has extensive diplomatic, trade and government experience including as the New
Zealand agriculture negotiator to the World Trade Organisation’s Doha Round negotiations. She has worked with government and large private-sector clients on trade policy and trade strategy matters relating to South-East Asia, Australia, China, Latin America, the European Union and WTO and global issues.

DAVID PINE

Representative, New Zealand China Council

David Pine is working with, or has advised, a range of companies and individuals including ASEAN Advisory, KYS Aventura, San Miguel Corporation, the University of Otago and the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ), as well as the New Zealand Government. David was a diplomat for two decades, including as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. He is chair of the Government's Trade for All advisory board.

DR ROBERT SCOLLAY

Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Auckland.

Robert Scollay is director of the New Zealand APEC Study Centre at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where he is also a member of the economics department. He is a former international coordinator for the PECC Trade Policy Forum, and led a number of its research projects, including an early study of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP). Much of his recent research and publications have focused on regional trade agreements and regional economic integration, including China's participation in these initiatives.

DR JASON YOUNG

Director, New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre

Dr Jason Young is an Associate Professor in Political Science and International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington and Director of the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre. His research focuses on Chinese politico-economic and institutional reform, Chinese foreign policy and New Zealand-China relations. His current research focuses on Chinese international relations writing on the Belt and Road initiative.