Consul General Chen Shijie Publishes Signed Article in Chinese and English Media in Consular District, Decoding “China’s Governance” from the CPC’s Over 100 Years of Struggle

Summary

Auckland Consul General Chen Shijie has published a signed article, “Decoding ‘China's Governance’ from the CPC's Over-a-Century Struggle”, in Chinese- and English-language media in the consular district, including The New Zealand Herald, the Chinese Herald and Skykiwi. The article said the Communist Party of China will mark its 105th anniversary in 2026, and that under the Party's leadership China has created the “two miracles” of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, with its contribution to world economic growth holding at around 30 per cent. It cited the world's largest education, social security and healthcare systems, and mentioned New Zealand friend Rewi Alley.

The article said modernisation is not Westernisation, that there is no single model of governance, and that China does not export the “Chinese model”. It also said China-New Zealand goods trade imports and exports reached US$11.7 billion in the first half of this year, up 7.8 per cent year on year, and that the 34th China-New Zealand Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade was held in Beijing in June.

Commentary

China-New Zealand goods trade reached US$11.7 billion in the first half of the year, up 7.8 per cent, underlining the resilience of the bilateral economic and trade relationship since the pandemic. New Zealand's exports to China remain dominated by dairy products, meat and timber, led by large cooperatives such as Fonterra, with SMEs having only limited involvement. The 34th China-New Zealand Joint Economic and Trade Commission advanced negotiations on a negative list for trade in services.

If concluded, market access thresholds in areas such as education, tourism and professional services are expected to be lowered, providing new entry paths for New Zealand SMEs. The article's emphasis on “not exporting a model” signals that China's regulatory environment differs significantly from the West, and that SMEs need to invest more resources in understanding local policies, data compliance and shifts in consumer preferences. On a base of US$11.7 billion, the better bet is to look beyond commodities to high-value-added services and branded consumer goods, drawing on the China-New Zealand FTA upgrade provisions to reduce tariff costs.

Keywords: Chen Shijie, China's governance, signed article, 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, China-New Zealand economic and trade cooperation, 34th China-New Zealand Joint Economic and Trade Commission, Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland, community with a shared future for mankind, Belt and Road Initiative, Rewi Alley

Source: Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Auckland – Consulate-General News