Chengdu-New Zealand Business Matchmaking Event Yields Five Cooperation Intentions

Summary

A Chengdu-New Zealand business matchmaking event was held recently in Chengdu, co-hosted by the Chengdu Centre for Opening-up and Cooperation Promotion and the Chengdu Federation of Industry and Commerce (General Chamber of Commerce). Simon Bridges, Chief Executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, led a 20-member trade delegation to attend, engaging in face-to-face discussions with Chengdu government departments, industry associations and more than 80 business representatives on industrial cooperation and market expansion. Chengdu and New Zealand share deep ties: in 1996 Chengdu established a friendly cooperative relationship with the Waikato region, and in 2015 formally twinned with Hamilton — this year marks the 11th anniversary of that sister-city link.

In 2024, the direct Chengdu-Auckland air route resumed operations. Yu Jian, Chairman of the Chengdu Federation of Industry and Commerce and President of the General Chamber of Commerce, said in his welcome address that the resumption of direct flights has pressed the 'accelerator' on bilateral trade and economic exchanges. China has remained New Zealand's largest goods trading partner for many consecutive years.

At the event, the Chengdu Centre for Opening-up and Cooperation Promotion gave a special presentation on the 'five-foreign linkages' system, while the Chengdu Investment Promotion Bureau introduced the city's business environment. The centre awarded the Auckland Chamber of Commerce an 'Open Chengdu' overseas partner plaque, with the two sides set to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism on trade information sharing, business delegation exchanges and industrial cooperation. During the pitch session, representatives from five New Zealand companies and six Chengdu companies took the stage, followed by one-on-one B2B matchmaking in biomedicine, food trade, building materials and home furnishings, and green energy, generating five cooperation intentions on site.

The Chengdu Federation of Industry and Commerce said it will continue to play a bridging role and build a high-frequency interaction platform for Chinese and foreign business communities.

Commentary

The Chengdu-New Zealand business matchmaking event produced five cooperation intentions on site, spanning biomedicine, food trade, building materials and home furnishings, and green energy. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce brought a 20-member delegation, underscoring New Zealand companies' interest in China's western market. As a consumer hub in western China, Chengdu has seen logistics efficiency improve markedly since direct flights to Auckland resumed in 2024, lowering the threshold for New Zealand SMEs to enter China's inland market.

Dairy, meat and timber dominate New Zealand's exports to China, but the focus on building materials and green energy at this event suggests New Zealand firms are seeking diversification and reducing reliance on traditional agricultural products. Chengdu's presentation of its 'five-foreign linkages' system and business environment offered New Zealand companies a concrete policy interface. For NZ SMEs, Chengdu's spillover effects can reach across southwest China, though they should note intense local competition and relatively high cultural and compliance requirements.

The Auckland Chamber of Commerce's 'Open Chengdu' overseas partner plaque will establish a long-term cooperation mechanism, providing New Zealand businesses with a stable information channel and matchmaking platform. Since the direct route resumed, easier people-to-people exchanges are expected to accelerate business negotiations and sample shipments, but SMEs still need to assess logistics costs and market entry strategies.

Keywords: Chengdu-New Zealand business matchmaking event, Auckland Chamber of Commerce, sister cities, five-foreign linkages, cooperation intentions, direct flight resumption, trade and economic cooperation, B2B matchmaking

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

成都与新西兰经贸对接洽谈会日前在成都举行，由成都市对外开放合作促进中心与成都市工商联（总商会）共同主办。新西兰奥克兰商会首席执行官西蒙·布里吉斯带领20人经贸代表团出席，与成都本地相关部门、行业协会及80余位企业代表面对面交流，围绕产业合作、市场拓展等话题深入探讨。成都与新西兰交往渊源深厚：1996年成都与新西兰怀卡托大区建立友好合作关系，2015年与哈密尔顿市正式缔结友好城市，今年恰逢结好十一周年；2024年成都至奥克兰直航航线恢复运营。

成都市工商联主席、市总商会会长俞建在欢迎辞中表示，直航复航为两地经贸往来按下了“加速键”。中国已连续多年保持新西兰第一大货物贸易伙伴地位。活动现场，成都市对外开放合作促进中心围绕“五外联动”体系作专题推介，成都市投资促进局介绍成都营商环境；该中心向新西兰奥克兰商会授予“开放成都”海外合作伙伴铭牌，双方将在经贸信息共享、企业互访对接、产业合作促进等方面建立长期合作机制。

路演环节，5家新西兰企业与6家成都企业代表登台展示，随后B2B对接围绕生物医药、食品贸易、建材家居、绿色能源等领域一对一洽谈，现场共促成合作意向5个。成都市工商联表示，下一步将持续发挥桥梁纽带作用，搭建中外工商界高频互动平台。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

成都与新西兰的经贸对接洽谈会现场达成五项合作意向，覆盖生物医药、食品贸易、建材家居和绿色能源等领域。奥克兰商会率20人代表团参与，凸显新西兰企业对中国西部市场的兴趣。成都作为中国西部消费中心，2024年恢复奥克兰直航后，物流效率显著提升，为新西兰中小企业降低进入中国内陆市场的门槛。

新西兰对华出口中，乳制品、肉类和木材占主导，但此次洽谈聚焦的建材家居和绿色能源，反映出新西兰企业正寻求多元化，减少对传统农产品的依赖。成都的“五外联动”体系推介和营商环境介绍，为新西兰企业提供了具体的政策对接窗口。对NZ SME而言，成都的辐射效应可覆盖中国西南地区，但需注意当地市场竞争激烈，且文化差异和合规要求较高。

奥克兰商会获得“开放成都”海外合作伙伴铭牌，将建立长期合作机制，这为新西兰企业提供了稳定的信息渠道和对接平台。直航恢复后，人员往来便利化有望加速商务谈判和样品运输，但中小企业仍需评估物流成本和市场进入策略。

关键词: 成都新西兰经贸对接洽谈会, 奥克兰商会, 友好城市, 五外联动, 合作意向, 直航复航, 经贸合作, B2B对接

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