Cultural Exchanges Promote Economic and Trade Cooperation: China-Singapore Economic and Trade Matchmaking Conference Held in Chengdu

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

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

9月7日，“开放成都·链接全球”中国（成都）—新西兰经贸对接洽谈会在成都举行。本次活动由成都市商务局、成都市人民政府外事办公室、成都市经济和信息化局成都市新经济发展委员会、成都市投资促进局、成都市卫生健康委员会指导，成都市对外开放合作促进中心、成都市工商业联合会（总商会）主办，成都高新技术产业开发区生物产业局、四川省一带一路经贸合作促进会等协办。新西兰奥克兰商会首席执行官、前新西兰国家党党魁、前经济发展部长西蒙·布里吉斯率20人经贸代表团来蓉，与80余位成都市相关部门、行业协会及企业代表共商产业合作。

成都市工商联主席、成都市总商会会长俞建致欢迎辞时表示，1996年成都与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城，今年双方共同迎来结好十一周年；2024年成都至奥克兰直航航线复航，更为两地经贸往来按下“加速键”。西蒙·布里吉斯表示，此次代表团带来涵盖生物医药、绿色建筑、食品工业、清洁能源、网络安全、冰雪旅游等领域的领先企业，期待让新西兰的优质产品与技术找到中国西部的落脚点，也让成都的产业优势向南半球延伸。中国长期稳居新西兰第一大货物贸易伙伴。

活动现场，成都市对外开放合作促进中心介绍对外开放合作促进工作举措及成效，成都市投资促进局作成都营商环境推介，市开放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，为中新企业搭建更加稳定、高效的对话平台。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

成都近年已成为中国西部消费与物流枢纽，作为中国第三个拥有双国际机场的城市，其国际货运航线覆盖主要经济体。2024年成都至奥克兰直航复航后，新西兰中小企业进入中国西部市场的交通成本与时间成本明显下降。奥克兰商会此次携20家企业覆盖生物医药、绿色建筑、清洁能源、网络安全等非传统出口领域，显示新西兰对华贸易正从乳制品、肉类等大宗商品向高附加值服务和技术解决方案延伸。

对NZ SME而言，成都拥有四川8000多万人口及辐射西南的消费腹地，而中国双碳目标和成渝地区双城经济圈建设带来绿色建筑、清洁能源等政策红利，相关技术型企业可借助成都的产业配套与示范项目实现首单落地。但另一面，中国西部市场本地竞争者众多，生物医药和网络安全领域面临严格审批与数据合规要求，新西兰企业若缺乏本地合作伙伴或对中国标准理解不足，容易陷入“对接热闹、订单难产”的困境。此次双方签署长期合作机制，若能落实经贸信息共享和企业互访，可减少中小企业的试错成本；反之则容易停留在象征性层面。

对于希望试水的新西兰公司，优先选择食品工业或冰雪旅游等消费端领域，利用中新自贸协定关税优惠和成都的消费活力，或许比直接切入受政策监管较重的行业更为务实。

关键词: 中新经贸对接洽谈会, 成都, 奥克兰商会, 西蒙·布里吉斯, 友好城市, 经贸合作, 海外合作伙伴铭牌, 生物医药, 对外开放

Source: Jiemian News