No binary choice for New Zealand between China and US

Jin Hanghang

O n June 18， the NZCFS 2022 Annual Conference was held in Auckland， New Zealand， the countrys largest city. Lin Songtian， president of the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries， was invited to make a keynote speech online.

Dave Bromwich， president of the New Zealand China Friendship Society （NZCFS）； Sir David Carter， former speaker of Parliament of New Zealand and honorary president of the NZCFS； and Wang Xiaolong， Chinese ambassador to New Zealand， attended the event and gave speeches. John McKinnon， former New Zealand ambassador to China； Ruan Ping， Chinese consul general in Auckland； and about 60 Chinese and New Zealand guests from various social circles were also present at the annual conference.

Lin extended congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the NZCFS. He commended the NZCFS for staying true to its original aspiration and contributing to the establishment of diplomatic relations and long-term friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. He also expressed “heartfelt thanks” to NZCFS members who have long been committed to promoting China-New Zealand friendship.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries， Lin said that over the past five decades， under the strategic guidance of leaders on both sides， the countries have respected each other， sought common ground while shelving differences and pursued common development.

“Our bilateral relations have stood the test of the changing international landscape and have always been at the forefront of Chinas relations with Western developed countries，”Lin said. “This relationship has become a successful example of win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems， cultural values and development stages and has created many firsts that both sides should be proud of，

“The history and reality of ChinaNew Zealand exchanges over the past half century demonstrate that as long as the East and the West treat each other with respect， seek common ground while shelving differences and adhere to the principle of equality and mutual benefit， both sides can coexist peacefully and achieve win-win cooperation for common development.”

Lin said that the Chinese people will always remember Rewi Alley， who served as a bridge of China-New Zealand friendship. He was an old friend and comrade of the Chinese people， who lived and worked for many years at the CPAFFC compound. Following the restoration of Alleys former residence， where a photo exhibition on his life was held last year， the CPAFFC is working to make statues and photo exhibitions of him and other outstanding representatives of Chinas international friends before autumn to carry forward Alleys spirit and build a demonstration base for the future growth of China-New Zealand friendship.

“In the face of major changes unseen in a century and the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic， some countries have chosen to deny the reality of the rapid development of China and other emerging economies. They cling to a Cold War mentality and， out of anxiety and panic， incite ideological and bloc confrontation， politicize people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation and attempt to deprive people from other countries of their right to development，” he said.

“Against this backdrop， it is inevitable that friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and New Zealand face noise and challenges. However， it is gratifying to note that the will and commitment of our two peoples to pursue common development through mutual respect， mutual benefit and win-win cooperation remains unchanged.”

Lin noted that China regards New Zealand as an important strategic cooperative partner and has full confidence in the positive prospects of bilateral relations. He said China is ready to share development opportunities and huge market dividends with New Zealand.

To this end， he continued， the CPAFFC would like to work with the NZCFS to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges， deepen winwin cooperation and explore trilateral cooperation between China， New Zealand and countries of the Pacific Islands.

“We will fully implement the important consensus reached by our two leaders. We will bear in mind the common interests of our two countries and the well-being of our two peoples， carry forward the Rewi Alley spirit， promote bilateral friendship， work together for an even brighter future of China-New Zealand relations and write a new chapter of friendship，” Lin said.

Dave Bromwich remarked that Alley， as founder of the NZCFS and a bridge of friendship between the two peoples， had made important contributions to the establishment of New Zealand-China diplomatic relations. His commitment to promoting mutual friendship has been the unchanging mission of the NZCFS over the past 70 years.

“Thanks to the CPAFFC for your long-term support and assistance，” he said. “Our two sides have witnessed the profound friendship between the two peoples and the fruits of mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.”

Currently， Bromwich said， the two countries are experiencing an impact from the international situation， and bilateral relations are encountering difficulties， twists and turns.

As friends， “we are fully committed” to supporting and providing aid to New Zealanders from all walks of life， helping them to acquire a fair and objective knowledge of China and an awareness that Chinas development will bring peace， stability and prosperity to all countries. This is the responsibility of the NZCFS， he said.

“We will， as always， make efforts to enhance understanding， friend-ship and mutual trust between the two peoples. We will focus on exchanges and cooperation” in the areas of youth， media， economics， trade， science and technology “to inject new impetus into the sound and steady development of bilateral relations”， Bromwich said.

Wang Xiaolong said the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand is an important milestone. Both sides should take it as an important opportunity to summarize their useful experience and jointly plan for the future.

“The remarkable achievements of China-New Zealand relations over the past 50 years cannot to be taken for granted. They are the result of the joint efforts of both sides，” Wang said.

“Looking ahead， we need to work together to take bilateral relations to a new level， enhance mutual respect and trust， seek common ground while reserving differences and strive for winwin results. This will make China-New Zealand relations more mature and resilient， and help our two countries and peoples work together for a brighter future.”

David Carter said： “Everyone has their own reasons for giving up the weekend to attend todays event. Im here out of admiration and respect for the Chinese people， their culture， history， cuisine and what Ive seen in my life that China has achieved. Its biggest achievement has been bringing 400 to 500 million people out of poverty into the middle-income group， 100 times larger than the population of New Zealand.”

“New Zealand is a sovereign country with an independent foreign policy. We can make friends with any country and no one can tell us what to do，” Carter said. “Although China and the US are both big countries， this is not a binary choice. New Zealand should and must make its own choice. That is to make friends with both countries.”

Carter recalled that in 2008， New Zealand signed a free trade agreement with China. After years of effort， there is still no free trade agreement reached between New Zealand， the United States and European Union. From this perspective， he said， fair trade is an important criterion for defining a true friend.

“Nowadays many people have a misconception about China. In fact， China is a modern economy， not a communist country where people are oppressed. Of course， China doesnt agree with us on everything — and we can certainly disagree — but we have a responsibility to do so with respect and to recognize their achievements. The NZCFS has the responsibility to dispel such misconceptions and help New Zealanders see China as a worthy friend，” he said.

Founded in 1952， the NZCFS is a national friendship organization for cultivating relations with China. It has 14 branches and is committed to upholding friendly relations. It has maintained long-term friendly exchanges and cooperation with the CPAFFC.