Summary
On September 7, the “Open Chengdu · Link the World” China (Chengdu)–New Zealand Economic and Trade Matchmaking Conference was held in Chengdu. The event was guided by the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chengdu Municipal People's Government, the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, the Chengdu Municipal Commission of New Economic Development, the Chengdu Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau, and the Chengdu Municipal Health Commission; hosted by the Chengdu Center for Opening-up and Cooperation Promotion and the Chengdu Federation of Industry and Commerce (Chengdu General Chamber of Commerce); and co-organized by the Biomedical Industry Bureau of Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone, the Sichuan Belt and Road Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Association, and others. Simon Bridges, Chief Executive of the Auckland Business Chamber, former leader of the New Zealand National Party, and former Minister for Economic Development, led a 20-member economic and trade delegation to Chengdu to discuss industrial cooperation with more than 80 representatives from relevant Chengdu government departments, industry associations, and enterprises.
In his welcome remarks, Yu Jian, Chairman of the Chengdu Federation of Industry and Commerce and President of the Chengdu General Chamber of Commerce, said that Chengdu and the Waikato region established friendly cooperative relations in 1996 and formally became sister cities with Hamilton in 2015; this year the two sides jointly celebrate the 11th anniversary of their twinning. The resumption of the direct Chengdu–Auckland flight route in 2024 has further pressed the “accelerator” on economic and trade exchanges between the two places. Simon Bridges said that the delegation brought leading companies in fields including biomedicine, green buildings, the food industry, clean energy, cybersecurity, and ice and snow tourism, and looked forward to helping New Z
Commentary
In recent years, Chengdu has become a consumer and logistics hub in western China. As the third city in China with two international airports, its international cargo routes cover major economies. After the Chengdu-Auckland direct route resumed in 2024, the transportation and time costs for New Zealand SMEs entering the western China market fell noticeably.
The Auckland Chamber of Commerce has brought 20 companies this time, covering non-traditional export sectors such as biomedicine, green building, clean energy, and cybersecurity, showing that New Zealand's trade with China is extending from bulk commodities such as dairy products and meat to high-value-added services and technology solutions. For NZ SMEs, Chengdu has Sichuan's population of more than 80 million and a consumer hinterland extending across Southwest China, while China's dual carbon goals and the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle bring policy dividends in areas such as green building and clean energy. Relevant technology-based companies can use Chengdu's industrial support and demonstration projects to secure their first orders.
On the other hand, western China has many local competitors, and the biomedicine and cybersecurity sectors face strict approval and data compliance requirements. If New Zealand companies lack local partners or do not sufficiently understand Chinese standards, they can easily fall into the dilemma of lively engagement but difficult order conversion. The long-term cooperation mechanism signed by both sides this time, if it can implement economic and trade information sharing and mutual visits by enterprises, can reduce the trial-and-error costs for SMEs; otherwise, it may easily remain merely symbolic.
For New Zealand companies hoping to test the waters, prioritizing consumer-facing fields such as the food industry or ice and snow tourism, and leveraging the tariff preferences of the China-New Zealand FTA and Chengdu's consumer vitality, may be more pragmati
Keywords: China-New Zealand Economic and Trade Matchmaking Conference, Chengdu, Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Simon Bridges, sister cities, economic and trade cooperation, overseas partner plaque, biomedicine, opening-up
Source: Jiemian News
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