Shipley: China a key ‘connector’ for Asia-Pacific cooperation

Summary

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said in Beijing on 11 October 2026 that China is an important 'connector' driving Asia-Pacific connectivity and open cooperation, speaking during the keynote session of the Tongzhou Global Development Forum (2026) hosted by Renmin University of China. She said building a community with a shared future for mankind requires principles including mutual respect, support for development and collective security, which are reflected in China's neighbourhood diplomacy and resonate across the Asia-Pacific. Citing data, she said China-ASEAN two-way trade exceeded USD 1 trillion for the first time in 2025, with China remaining ASEAN's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, and said China's Belt and Road cooperation has boosted trade and people-to-people exchanges with neighbouring countries.

Shipley also said China's modernisation offers other countries access to new technologies, new markets and new development paths, and that Chinese goods are attractive to global consumers for their innovation-driven price competitiveness and quality experience. She said China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November this year, and expressed hope that parties will use the platform to unlock digital and intelligent potential, build new innovation-driven advantages and cooperate on AI safety governance. She also called on Asia-Pacific members to focus on climate change, listen to the concerns of Pacific Island countries, strengthen cooperation on green development, low-carbon transition and green technology, and build trust and consensus while managing differences to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Commentary

Former Prime Minister Shipley's remarks underscore China's pivotal role in Asia-Pacific connectivity, and the data she cited — China-ASEAN trade topping USD 1 trillion for the first time in 2025 and China holding its position as ASEAN's largest trading partner for 17 straight years — is of direct relevance to New Zealand SMEs that depend on regional supply chains. NZ firms can leverage the close China-ASEAN trade network to embed their agricultural products or technology solutions into regional value chains, for example by transiting through Chinese ports or bidding jointly with Chinese partners for Southeast Asian infrastructure projects. On the other hand, Shipley's emphasis on the price competitiveness and innovative experience of Chinese goods is a reminder that NZ SMEs need to reassess their competitive strategies in import substitution or local retail, especially in consumer electronics and smart home segments, where Chinese brands are accelerating into Australasian markets.

With the APEC summit soon to be held in Beijing, digital and AI governance issues may generate new cross-border compliance requirements, and New Zealand technology service providers should study relevant standards early and aim to become regional solution providers. The climate concerns of Pacific Island countries were mentioned, and New Zealand has traditional strengths in green technology and low-carbon transition and could work with China on renewable energy projects in island countries, though geopolitical sensitivities need to be watched.

Keywords: Shipley, Tongzhou Global Development Forum, Asia-Pacific cooperation, China-ASEAN trade, Belt and Road, APEC, AI safety governance, climate change, Pacific Island countries, mutual benefit and win-win

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

新西兰前总理希普利2026年10月11日在北京出席由中国人民大学主办的通州·全球发展论坛(2026)，并在主题演讲环节发言，称中国是推动亚太互联互通与开放合作的重要“连接者”。她表示，构建人类命运共同体需要秉持相互尊重、支持发展和集体安全等原则，这些原则体现在中国的周边外交实践中，也在亚太地区引发共鸣。她援引数据指出，2025年中国与东盟双边贸易额首次突破1万亿美元，中国连续17年保持东盟第一大贸易伙伴地位，并称中国通过“一带一路”合作推动周边国家经贸往来与人文交流。

希普利还表示，中国现代化进程为其他国家接触新技术、新市场和新发展路径提供机遇，中国商品凭借创新带来的价格竞争力和优质体验对全球消费者具有吸引力。她提到今年11月中国将主办APEC第三十三次领导人非正式会议，期待各方借此平台释放数字化与智能化潜力、打造创新驱动新优势，并开展人工智能安全治理合作。此外，她呼吁亚太地区各成员关注气候变化议题，倾听太平洋岛国相关诉求，加强绿色发展、低碳转型及绿色技术合作，并期待各方在管控分歧中建立信任、凝聚共识，实现互利共赢。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

希普利前总理的发言凸显中国在亚太互联互通中的枢纽角色，其引用数据——2025年中国与东盟贸易额首破万亿美元、连续17年保持东盟最大贸易伙伴——对依赖区域供应链的新西兰中小企业具有直接参考价值。新西兰企业可借助中国与东盟的紧密经贸网络，将自身农产品或技术方案嵌入区域价值链，例如通过中国港口中转或与中国伙伴联合投标东南亚基建项目。另一方面，希普利强调中国商品的价格竞争力与创新体验，这提醒NZ SME在进口替代或本地零售中需重新评估竞争策略，尤其在消费电子和智能家居领域，中国品牌正加速进入澳新市场。

APEC峰会即将在北京举行，数字化与AI治理议题可能催生新的跨境合规要求，新西兰科技服务商应提前研究相关标准，争取成为区域解决方案提供者。太平洋岛国气候诉求被提及，新西兰在绿色技术和低碳转型方面有传统优势，可联合中国在岛国开展可再生能源项目，但需注意地缘政治敏感性。

关键词: 希普利, 通州·全球发展论坛, 亚太合作, 中国东盟贸易, 一带一路, APEC, 人工智能安全治理, 气候变化, 太平洋岛国, 互利共赢

Source: N/A