Prime Minister To Visit China And Europe
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister
PrimeMinister Christopher Luxon will travel to China and Europe next week. He will be joined in Shanghai and Beijing with a delegation of senior New Zealand business leaders.
'China is New Zealand's largest trading partner and a vital part of our economic story,' Mr Luxon says.
The visit will focus on growing trade, which was worth over $38 billion last year, as well as also look to strengthen education and tourism links and to maximise opportunities for New Zealand businesses.
'New Zealand is a trusted supplier of safe, high-quality food and beverage products to Chinese consumers. It is an important market, and I look forward to doing what I can to support Kiwi businesses to thrive,' Mr Luxon says.
China is New Zealand's largest source of international students and is our third-largest tourism market.
'This visit is about backing the recovery of international education and tourism and putting New Zealand front and centre as a world-class destination for travel, study, and long-term connection,' Mr Luxon says.
The Prime Minister will meet China's top leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, to discuss the comprehensive bilateral relationship and key regional and global issues.
'The challenging global outlook makes it vital that we are sharing perspectives and engaging China on issues that matter to New Zealand.'
The Prime Minister will be accompanied by the 2025 Te Matatini champions, Te Kapa Haka o Ngatī Whakaue.
The Prime Minister and his delegation will be in China from 17 to 20 June.
Europe
Mr Luxon will then travel on to Europe to undertake bilateral visits in Brussels and the Hague. He will meet with leaders, including from the European Union, to discuss trade, security, and the shifting geopolitical landscape.
'We have a high-quality trade relationship with the European Union, and the Netherlands and Belgium are gateways for New Zealand's growing exports to Europe,' Mr Luxon says.
'Since the early entry into force of the New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement, Kiwi goods exports have grown by over 25 per cent, which is a more than NZ$1 billion increase."
In the Netherlands, the Prime Minister will participate in the NATO Summit and hold one-on-one talks with a number of NATO leaders.
'Prosperity is only possible with security, and our discussions will focus on connections between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security environments,' Mr Luxon says.
New Zealand has been invited to the NATO Summit alongside other members of the Indo-Pacific Four - Australia, Japan and Korea.
"I look forward to building our positive relationship with our European friends, and to forging stronger links with businesses and investors as part of our wider plan to rebuild New Zealand's economy.'
The Prime Minister is in Europe from 21 to 25 June.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
37 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Gumboots and announcements at Fieldays
Just some of the stalls and hubs on display at Fieldays on Wednesday. Photo: Monique Steele Today is the last day of largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere. From gumboots to tractors to camo, Fieldays has had it all - including multiple government announcements and political parties of all stripes. Thousands of people have made it to the event, including Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford who talks to Susie.
RNZ News
37 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Israeli ministers banned
Photo: AFP/JACK GUEZ Earlier in the week New Zealand joined several countries including the UK in imposing a travel ban on two Israeli politicians. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have "actively undermined peace and security." Mihi spoke to former chief editor of the Associated Press for Europe, Africa and the Middle East - and author - Dan Perry who is based in Tel Aviv.
Techday NZ
2 hours ago
- Techday NZ
AI to create new roles as Nimbl predicts job growth not loss
New analysis from Nimbl Consulting has suggested that artificial intelligence (AI) is set to reshape the jobs landscape, but predicts that the new era will see job growth rather than redundancy. According to Nimbl Director Wyn Ackroyd, the advent of AI and its integration into core business activities will create opportunities for emerging roles and personalised products on a scale not previously possible. Jobs 'not fewer, but different' In a recent thought piece titled "Customer Service at the Speed of AI", Ackroyd highlights a future where AI enables businesses to deliver highly personalised, real-time services, shifting the emphasis from job losses to new types of employment. "We're not heading toward a future with fewer jobs. We're heading toward a future with different jobs, roles that don't exist yet, but will be essential to delivering the next generation of customer experiences," Ackroyd said. The report draws on industry examples such as the insurance and banking sectors. "Imagine a customer requests a complex mortgage involving KiwiSaver contributions, parental equity, and other non-traditional inputs. In the AI-powered future, financial institutions will be able to instantly generate a bespoke product, tailored to that individual's needs, in real time. Not just for them, but for others with similar profiles, before they even ask," Ackroyd said. This approach signals what Nimbl terms "Service at the Speed of AI", in which unique customer products could be created every hour, each tailored to specific individuals or niche groups. Ackroyd emphasises that rather than eliminating jobs, this will create a vacuum that will be filled by new services and corresponding employment opportunities. Emergence of new roles The analysis suggests that AI-native businesses will increasingly operate with remarkable speed, creating thousands of personalised products as AI tools become more sophisticated. Ackroyd foresees the emergence of new roles such as AI Interaction Designers, Personalisation Strategists, and Synthetic Data Curators. These positions, presently rare or non-existent, are expected to become vital as organisations seek to leverage data for tailored customer solutions. To realise these opportunities, Nimbl encourages investment in data quality, workforce retraining, and strategic redesign. Ackroyd notes that companies must now rethink their approach to workforce planning, prioritising skills that complement AI, like creativity and empathy. Strategic shift for businesses Businesses are also cautioned against viewing AI solely as a means to cut costs. Ackroyd advises that the greater potential lies in deploying AI as a tool to expand capacity and improve customer experience. "The real question isn't how many jobs AI will replace. It's how we'll use the capacity it creates to serve customers in ways we've never been able to before," Ackroyd said. "With some Nimbl footwork," Ackroyd concludes. "the future is full of opportunity." New Zealand-based consultancy, Nimbl, is helping organisations navigate change through a combination of agility, strategic insight, and purpose-driven transformation. Specialising in areas such as AI integration and customer experience design, the business transformation firm supports clients in adapting to an increasingly dynamic and competitive landscape.
