Top executives weigh in at CIIE (V)

A1: Zespri has participated in CIIE since the beginning in 2018, to show our commitment to China, to strengthen our partnerships and to share ideas. CIIE has become one of the premier trade events around the world, and Zespri is committed to ongoing participation as part of our commitment to China and because of the opportunities it presents.

A2: CIIE is incredibly important as a place for people to come together to share ideas, build and strengthen ties and to find ways to succeed together. I always enjoy coming here to listen and learn and represent Zespri and the New Zealand kiwifruit industry as we look for new opportunities. I've no doubt that as travel restrictions ease, more and more people from around the world will seek to travel here for this great event.

A3: China has been a major driver of global economic growth, and in particular during the recovery from COVID-19, exporters around the world have sought every opportunity to sell to China's discerning consumers. China's outlook remains incredibly strong and Zespri, like exporters around the world, is committed to building connections with Chinese partners and consumers and to continuing to provide the world's best kiwifruit.

A4: After more than 20 years China is already one of our largest export markets. Zespri has seen strong growth in our own China business as more and more consumers have sought our kiwifruit because they know it is healthy, tastes great and is grown in a way that's good for communities and the environment. We're incredibly confident in China and expect to see demand for Zespri Kiwifruit continue to grow. We will continue to invest in strengthening our relationships with our partners, consumers and communities in China, and to helping communities to thrive here and around the world.

A5: Zespri has benefitted greatly from the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement and the upgrade announced earlier this year. The efficiency of the Customs clearance process also continues to improve, and most of our kiwifruit is in the hands of our customers within 24 hours. Of course, during this special time of COVID, we are facing new challenges both with the movement across borders of our kiwifruit and our people. China Customs has worked closely with Zespri to overcome some of these new issues ensuring that fresh fruit can be cleared safely and efficiently.

A6: As someone who has experienced several months in isolation in China and New Zealand, I very much look forward to the world opening up even more! But it's really important we continue to take a health-based approach which keeps people safe, and I acknowledge the commitment of the Chinese government to that. I think it is important that the world does continue to open up safely. We are more united and more successful when we can be together and hug family and shake hands and see each other in person. I see it myself when I come to China and can meet with our partners and with government representatives – you do strengthen connections and build trust and understanding and that's incredibly important. At the same time while it has been challenging for some, overall countries like China and New Zealand have managed the pandemic well and are emerging strong, in spite of the restrictions, and this bodes well for when the world does open up again.

A7: Always the government will have to consider the welfare of people first and foremost. But as we open up I think there's real opportunity to build on the positive momentum from both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. That's not just economic but also the social and environmental challenges we face as nations and globally, from climate change to tackling poverty and finding environmentally friendly ways to feed the world. These are key challenges which the governments in New Zealand and China are tackling, and we're making real progress.

A8: China has shown real leadership in international trade. China's finalization of a free trade agreement with New Zealand back in 2018 was China's first with a developed economy. China joining RCEP is another signal of this leadership in helping establish the world's largest free trade zone. RCEP will assist Zespri especially around Customs procedures and some of the rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures. It is also a fantastic example of the benefit of establishing clear and consistent international trading rules for all. This has been incredibly important as opposition to free trade has grown in recent years. Zespri believes in the importance of growing trade ties to create opportunities, strengthen connections and raise living standards around the world. We are encouraged by the leadership shown by our two countries.