（Photo by Vicky Lu）
Dr Yang,
Mr Bridges,
Members of Parliament, Mr. McClay, Mr. Goldsmith, Melissa, Carlos
Mayor Brown,
Deputy Mayor Simpson, President Goodfellow,
Mr Groser,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
杨健博士，
布里吉斯首席执行官，
各位议员，麦克莱先生、戈德史密斯先生、梅丽莎女士、张隽浩先生，
布朗市长，
辛普森副市长、古德费洛先生，
格罗泽先生，
女士们、先生们、朋友们：
Good evening. Let me first thank the New Zealand Chinese Business Club and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to tonight’s event. I would also like to congratulate all the awardees and acknowledge everyone here for your support for and contribution to China-New Zealand economic relations.
晚上好！感谢新西兰华商俱乐部和奥克兰商会邀请我参加2023年度颁奖晚宴。我谨在此向所有获奖者表示热烈祝贺！感谢在座诸位对中新经贸关系的支持和贡献。
From an economic perspective, if there is anything other than the recent election that has received most attention here in New Zealand, it is probably the state of the Chinese economy, which is only natural given the close linkages between the two countries.
While people are of course entitled to their own opinions, which may or may not be the same, my advice to friends, particularly those stakeholders in the relationship, has always been: look at the big picture and look at the long run, rather than losing sight of the mountain for one single leaf, or allowing economic sensibility to be warped by the false, often self-fulfilling and probably self-defeating geopolitical narrative.
最近，新西兰各界在热议刚刚举行的大选之余，也高度关注中国的经济形势。中新有着紧密的经贸关系，这种关注实属正常。各种观点众说纷纭，这也并不奇怪。但我对新西兰朋友特别是从事中新经贸合作朋友们的建议一直是，观察中国经济要看全局、看长远，切忌一叶障目不见泰山，切莫让一些自欺欺人的虚假地缘政治叙事干扰对经济问题的判断，因为那些论调多是别有用心，最后往往不攻自破。
Since the beginning of the year, China’s economy has met with headwinds from risks and challenges abroad and at home, but has however maintained a reasonably strong momentum, remaining a major engine for global economic growth. The economy grew by 4.9% year-on-year between July and September, and expanded by 5.2% in the first three quarters, outpacing most other major economies both in terms of year-on-year growth and cumulative growth. Looking into the full year, most international institutions such as the World Bank have forecast global growth at 2% while 5% or higher for China, which is a bright spot in the gathering clouds on the global economic horizon.
今年以来，中国经济顶住了国外的风险挑战和国内多重因素交织叠加带来的逆风，总体保持了强劲发展势头，仍然是全球经济增长的重要引擎。前三季度中国GDP同比增长5.2%，其中三季度增长4.9%。无论是同比增速还是前三季度的累计增速，中国在国际主要经济体中都是名列前茅。展望全年，世界银行等国际机构普遍预测全球经济增速仅为2%左右，而中国有望实现5%以上的增长，这给“乌云”笼罩的世界经济带来了一抹亮色。
On top of that, solid progress is being made as China’s economy pivots from high-speed growth to high-quality development. Despite signs of softening in a few sectors, more economic indicators augur well for the improvement of the country’s economic structure and better quality of development. Domestic consumption has driven the lion’s share of the rise of China’s economy this year, contributing to 83.2% of growth and lifting GDP by 4.4 percentage points. Meanwhile, the country’s efforts to deliver high-quality development have given birth to fresh, innovation-based growth drivers in line with future trends. China’s green industry, known for electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and solar batteries, has maintained a rapid growth momentum. Exports of these products increased 41.7% in the first nine months. This is among the many examples showcasing China’s contribution to the global transition towards greener and lower-carbon development pathways.
更重要的是，中国经济在从高速增长向高质量发展的转型过程中迈出了坚实步伐。虽然部分经济指标的增速有所放缓，但中国经济结构正在不断优化，发展质量持续提升。消费持续发挥经济增长主引擎作用，前三季度最终消费支出对中国经济增长的贡献率是83.2%，拉动GDP增长4.4个百分点。中国扎实推进经济高质量发展也催生出了符合未来发展趋势的创新驱动型新增长点。大家熟知的绿色产业，尤其是新能源汽车、锂电池、光伏电池“新三样”保持较快增长势头，前三季度“新三样”出口增速高达41.7%。这也是中国为全球绿色低碳转型发展所做诸多贡献中的一个范例。
Post-COVID recovery does not follow a linear trajectory. Inevitably, there will be twists and turns as well as ups and downs. Given the mounting downward pressure on the global economy, China still faces many challenges in pursuing high-quality economic development, with some sectors undergoing major shifts. We do not shy away from these problems. Rather, we address them head-on. Our measures to help businesses get through the tough times and reinvigorate the market are gradually paying off. The Chinese government has an ample policy toolkit, which gives us confidence to address difficulties and forestall systemic risks.
We believe that these difficulties, while real and in some cases significant, are surmountable and thus transitory. Besides, every difficulty we overcome opens a new path to bigger opportunities for high-quality development. Looking ahead, the fundamentals of China’s long-term sound economic growth, characterized by strong resilience, enormous potential and great vitality, remain unchanged.
In the words of Stephan Jacobi, ED of New Zealand International Business Forum, China is still China.
疫后经济复苏是一个波浪式发展、曲折式前进的过程，特别是在世界经济下行压力加大的环境下，中国经济高质量发展面临着不少挑战，一些行业正经历深刻调整。我们不回避问题，正采取措施积极加以解决，成效已经逐步显现。中国政府的政策工具箱很充足，我们完全有能力克服困难和挑战，有信心不发生系统性风险。尽管这些困难不容乐观，但都是可以克服的，也是暂时的。更为重要的是，克服这些困难将为中国经济实现高质量发展创造新的机遇。展望未来，中国经济韧性强、潜力大、活力足，长期向好的基本面没有改变。就像新西兰国际商业论坛的执行董事杰珂陛先生讲的那样，中国还是那个中国。
Ladies and gentlemen,
女士们、先生们，
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As a key measure to advance further opening up of China, the BRI has its roots in the country, and its benefits are shared across the world. Over the past decade, based on the principle of “planning together, building together, and benefiting together”, the BRI promotes connectivity, facilitates the effort of partner countries and regions to better integrate into global supply, industrial and value chains, and creates greater opportunities for common development. Many countries have seized the momentum of the BRI and got on board the train of China’s development, making the initiative a highly popular global public good and cooperation platform.
今年是共建“一带一路”倡议提出十周年。作为中国对外开放模式的新拓展和实施新一轮对外开放的重要举措，“一带一路”倡议根植中国，成果惠及世界。十年来，“一带一路”倡议坚持共商共建共享，有力促进互联互通，促使有关国家和地区更好融入全球供应链、产业链、价值链，让许多国家搭上了中国发展的快车，打开了更广阔的发展空间，成为广受欢迎的国际公共产品和国际合作平台。
Not long ago, China successfully hosted the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and welcomed participants from more than 150 countries and 40 international organizations to celebrate fruitful results and plan for its next stage. President Xi announced eight major steps China will take to support our joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Among others, China will establish pilot zones for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation, enter into free trade agreements and investment protection treaties with more countries, and remove all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector. China will also further advance high-standard opening up in cross-border service trade and investment, expand market access for digital and other products, and deepen reform in areas including the state-owned enterprises, digital economy, intellectual property and government procurement.
前不久，第三届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛成功召开，150多个国家和40多个国际组织共襄盛举，取得丰硕成果。习近平主席在论坛上宣布了支持高质量共建“一带一路”的八项行动，包括中方将创建“丝路电商”合作先行区，同更多国家商签自由贸易协定、投资保护协定；全面取消制造业领域外资准入限制措施；主动对照国际高标准经贸规则，深入推进跨境服务贸易和投资高水平开放，扩大数字产品等市场准入，深化国有企业、数字经济、知识产权、政府采购等领域改革等等。
The eight steps chart the course for the next phase of Belt and Road cooperation, and will open up new vistas for the common prosperity of BRI partners and global growth. We would like to encourage more Kiwi friends and businesses to seize the opportunities offered by high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, so as to help China-New Zealand economic cooperation to bear even more fruits for both sides and the wider region.
八项行动为深化“一带一路”合作明确了新方向，开辟了新愿景，将为“一带一路”伙伴国家和世界经济增长创造更多机遇。我们欢迎更多新西兰的朋友和企业抓住高质量共建“一带一路”的合作机遇，让中新经贸合作为两国乃至更广泛的地区结出更多硕果。
In China-New Zealand relations, trade and broader economic cooperation is a key pillar, serving as both a ballast and a propeller of the overall bilateral partnership. Indeed, our trade relations face challenges from shrinking global demand, falling commodity prices, greater competition and changing consumer preferences. In spite of all these, they have proved to be remarkably resilient. According to the latest statistics, China received 27% of the total value of New Zealand’s goods exports in the year ending September 2023, remaining New Zealand’s largest trading partner, exporting destination and importing source. As China steadily advances high-quality development and opens up further, it will offer more market opportunities to New Zealand businesses. Let me share some of my suggestions on how New Zealand businesses, standing at the start of the second 50 years of China-New Zealand relations, could strengthen cooperation with China.
经贸合作一直是中新关系的重要支柱，是双边关系的“推进器”和“压舱石”。受全球需求走弱、大宗商品价格下跌、竞争加剧、消费者偏好变化等因素影响，中新双边贸易出现了一些起伏，但中新经贸合作仍然韧性十足。最新数据显示，截至2023年9月的一年内，新西兰27%的出口以中国为目的地，中国依然是新西兰第一大贸易伙伴、出口市场和进口来源地。随着中国经济高质量发展扎实推进，高水平开放继续深化，中国市场必然将为新西兰企业提供更多机遇。展望下一个50年，我想给新西兰工商界发展对华经贸合作提三点建议：
First, consolidate what we have achieved. China and New Zealand have built up complementary economic relations featuring structural synergy and compatible demands. Over the past five decades, our bilateral trade rose from NZ$7 million when the diplomatic relations were established to over NZ$40 billion in 2022, and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. Building on the deep roots we have struck in each other’s market, we should work to unlock the full potentials in traditional, established sectors of cooperation such as dairy, meat, wood, tourism and education.
一是巩固传统优势。中新经济结构高度互补，各有优势，互有需求。半个多世纪以来，两国双边贸易从建交初的700万新元增加到2022年的400多亿新元，给两国人民带来了实实在在的好处。在此基础上，两国应进一步深化乳品、肉类、木材等货物贸易和旅游、教育服务等传统优势领域合作，巩固中新经贸合作基本盘。
Second, upgrade what we are working on, by extending the value chains, by better targeting the new and growing consumer communities to meet their evolving and upgrading needs, and by expanding into new markets as China seeks to balance inter-regional and urban-rural development, empowering previous economic hinterlands in the country to grow and open up.
In my recent conversations here in New Zealand, a friend observed: where else can you find a market for New Zealand’s premium products which will add another mid-sized developed economy with a growing mid-income community EACH YEAR in the foreseeable future? In other words, the next China will be in China.
二是提高合作水平。中国正在全力推进城乡、区域协调发展，推动内陆地区的发展和开放。在此进程中，双方企业要延伸价值链，着眼新兴消费群体的增长，更好适应中国消费升级换代需求，并拓展新的市场。最近，一位新西兰朋友在与我交流时指出：对于新西兰优质产品来说，在可预见的未来，还有哪个市场每年的增量相当于一个中等规模发达国家的经济总量，且中等收入群体持续增长？换句话说，下一个中国仍然会是在中国。
Third, forge new drivers for growth. I understand that for the incoming Government and the wider New Zealand body politic, making up for the infrastructure deficit and promoting a sustainable transition to meet climate change commitments are among the top policy priorities. We share those commitments in China, and see huge room for the two countries to cooperate in that space, for example, on infrastructure development, EVs, and renewable energy, which will not only create new opportunities for our bilateral economic cooperation but also contribute to the long-term development of this country.
三是拓展新增长点。据我了解，无论是即将上任的新政府还是新西兰广大民众，都把弥补基础设施赤字和促进可持续转型以履行气候变化承诺作为优先事项。这些也是中方的重要发展方向。中新两国在基础设施、电动汽车、可再生能源等领域有巨大的合作空间。双方企业在这些领域加强合作，不仅将为双方经贸合作塑造新增长点，也将对新西兰的长远发展做出贡献。
In this connection, I wish to emphasize that as China continues to reform and open up, the Chinese market will inevitably become more competitive. New Zealand was the first western developed country that entered into a bilateral FTA with China, imparting important first-mover advantage to New Zealand. Over the years, Kiwi businesses have worked hard to cultivate the Chinese Market and built up a reputation for themselves as being green, clean and state-of-the-art. As long as they take a long-term view and carefully protect and wisely use their advantages, not least the valuable national branding among them, I am confident they will continue to enjoy success in generating mutually beneficial results on the Chinese market.
我在此特别想指出的是，随着中国继续改革开放，中国市场的竞争会更加激烈。新西兰是第一个与中国签署双边自贸协定的西方发达国家，这给新西兰带来了重要的先发优势。多年来，新西兰企业深耕中国市场，塑造了绿色、清洁、高端的品牌形象。只要放眼长远，悉心呵护并且明智地运用这些优势，特别是国家品牌形象这一宝贵财富，我相信新西兰企业能够继续在中国取得成功，实现互利共赢。
Ladies and gentlemen,
女士们，先生们，
Win-win cooperation has always been the mainstream of China-New Zealand relations. Though divergent in size, history, culture and political system, both China and New Zealand are committed to ensuring growth and delivering a better life to our people, while each has its own strengths that are highly complementary. These coalesce to constitute the solid foundation for a mutually beneficial partnership centered on practical cooperation, which has grown remarkably over the past 50 plus years in all areas, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, and in the meantime, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in our region and around the world.
互利共赢始终是中新关系的本质和主流。中新两国虽然历史文化、政治体制、经济体量不同，但都致力于推动国家发展进步，让各自人民过上更幸福的生活，两国在很多领域也各有所长、优势互补。这些因素为双方互利合作奠定了牢固的基础。两国携手走过50多个春秋，各领域务实合作硕果累累，既给两国人民带来了实实在在的好处，也为维护国际和地区和平稳定、发展繁荣作出积极贡献。
Practical cooperation does not take place in a vacuum, though. The sound overall relationship has been a key underlying factor. While practical cooperation based on mutual interests constitutes arguably the staunchest of all pillars for the growing China-New Zealand relationship, the former has no doubt benefited enormously from the healthy and stable development of the latter.
In addition, both China and New Zealand have benefited from peace and stability as well as open and inclusive intra-regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific over the decades. Given what transpires in some of the other parts of the world, this has acquired added importance. It is in our common interest to keep it that way.
当然，中新两国的务实合作不是发生在真空中，与双边关系的健康稳定发展密不可分。双方在平等互利基础上开展的务实合作是两国整体关系发展的重要支柱和引擎，而整体双边关系的稳定发展，也为双方务实合作的开展提供了最坚实有力的保障。此外，几十年来，中新两国都从亚太地区的和平稳定发展和开放包容合作中获益良多。考虑到当前世界其他地区的情况，维持亚太地区这一良好势头愈发重要，符合两国共同利益。
For China, no matter how the international and our respective domestic situations evolve, we remain committed to working with New Zealand to collaborate constructively in regional and global affairs, and to promote the sound development of our bilateral relations, make the pie of common interests bigger, and deliver greater benefits to the two peoples. I am encouraged to see that the relationship enjoys broad-based support from successive Governments, across all major political parties and from all walks of life here in New Zealand. I want to thank the Labor government for its efforts, and look forward to working closely with the incoming National-led government to take the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our two countries, which by the way will mark its 10th anniversary, to new heights.
对中方来讲，无论国际形势和两国国内各自发生何种变化，中方都愿与新方共同努力，在地区和全球事务中开展建设性合作，推动双边关系继续健康稳定发展，做大共同利益蛋糕，更好造福两国人民。我很高兴看到，新西兰历届政府和各界都关心和支持中新关系的发展。感谢工党政府为推动中新关系发展作出的努力，期待与国家党领导的新一届政府密切合作，以明年共庆中新全面战略伙伴关系建立10周年为契机，推动两国关系再上层楼。
In closing, I wish tonight’s event a full success. May China-New Zealand cooperation continue to grow. May our peoples enjoy greater and lasting prosperity. Thank you.
最后，祝今晚活动取得圆满成功，祝中新两国经贸关系不断取得新进展，更多更好造福两国人民。谢谢大家！