Latest news with #Ctrip
Bangkok Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
China's visa-free policy pays dividends as overseas entries soar in 2025
China's expansion of visa-free entry to nationals from dozens of countries appears to have yielded substantial results, with tourists arriving in droves from overseas and providing a much-needed boost to the country's consumption in the first half of the year. Shanghai, the country's financial hub, saw 2.6 million visits from abroad in the first six months of 2025, up 44.8% year-on-year, according to local authorities. About 1.4 million of them entered China under a visa-free policy, more than three times the figure observed in the same period last year. South Korea, Japan, the United States, Thailand and Russia were among the top sources of foreign arrivals, and the city's Pudong International Airport was top-ranked in the country for overseas traffic with 2.37 million entries. The national capital of Beijing saw over 840,000 visa-free arrivals - double the figure from the same period last year - out of 1.49 million total entries from abroad. In the southwestern metropolis of Chengdu, 287,000 entries were made under the visa-free policy in the first half of this year, up 120% from the first six months of 2024. The southern island province of Hainan - now designated the country's largest free trade port - saw 663,000 foreign entries and exits, up 48% from 2024. About 89% came under a visa-free scheme; the province allows 30-day stays without a visa for citizens of 59 countries, unique among Chinese regions. James Liang, chairman of China's leading online travel service Ctrip, said the policy has been a boon for travel businesses. "Our inbound tourism has already recovered to 70 to 80% of pre-Covid levels. It could be fully recovered this year," he was quoted by Shanghai-based media outlet The Paper as saying. "There are still some bottlenecks to be addressed. If they are tackled, China's inbound tourism could reach the world's top tier in 10 or 20 years." Beijing began expanding its visa-free entry policy in late 2023 to lure foreign tourists and businesspeople back to the country after nearly three years of strict Covid-19 controls. Many countries, particularly those in Europe and elsewhere in Asia, have received blanket exemptions to visa requirements. Their citizens can visit anywhere in the country during stays of up to 30 days. Others are able to enter without a visa under certain conditions. Most commonly, nationals can enter while on a documented transit stay while travelling between countries or regions. Last month, the National Immigration Administration added Indonesia to this list. Passport holders from those countries can stay visa-free for up to 10 days by entering through one of 60 international ports in mainland China. The scheme, in all its forms, now covers a majority of developed markets as well as much of Southeast Asia, which has strengthened its business ties with China in recent years. In addition to the visa-free policy, the world's second-largest economy has taken other steps to encourage spending among overseas tourists, including by opening more duty-free shops across the country.
Borneo Post
26-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Post-gaokao spending marks rite of passage for Chinese teens
Students celebrate after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province on June 9, 2025. – Xinhua photo BEIJING (June 27): As the plane touched down at Beijing Capital International Airport, 18-year-old Zhao Zhixing from east China's Fujian Province snapped a selfie from his window seat, marking the start of his first solo trip after the grueling national college entrance examination, or gaokao. 'After the intense pressure of high school, I want to relax by traveling and, at the same time, broaden my horizons by experiencing the charm of different cities,' said Zhao, who planned his post-gaokao trip to Beijing and Nanjing – over a week of sightseeing, theme parks and no textbooks – as soon as the exam ended. For millions of Chinese teens like Zhao, the end of the gaokao signals more than just academic relief. It ushers in a unique consumer trend known as the 'post-gaokao economy' as students and their families celebrate hard-earned freedom with a surge in spending on travel, electronics, lifestyle upgrades, and self-discovery experiences. This week, gaokao results have begun to roll out across the country, giving graduates even more reason to unwind and enjoy the summer break. Emotional spending spike Across China, industries ranging from tourism and consumer electronics to personal training and medical services have reported a spike in activity in the weeks following the gaokao, which is held in early June every year. According to data from Ctrip, bookings for travel packages departing between June 9 and June 11 rose by 88 per cent compared to the previous week, as many high school graduates chose to begin their trips immediately after the exam. Destinations such as Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Xi'an are attracting large numbers of student travelers, with many scenic spots offering discounted or free admission for this year's high school graduates. Retailers are also experiencing growth, with electronics ranking among the top purchases. Sun Jian, store manager of JD MALL in Chongqing, said that alongside popular items like smartphones, laptops and tablets, sales of learning devices, digital notebooks and wearable gadgets have risen by 40 to 50 per cent compared with the pre-gaokao period. Given the immense importance of the gaokao in Chinese society, both students and parents often turn to travel, shopping, or celebration as a way to find emotional release after years of academic pressure. 'My son enjoys gaming, so we promised him that if he focused on preparing for the exam, he could fully relax and have fun afterward,' said a customer surnamed Zhuang, who was shopping for a laptop at a store in Fujian's Quanzhou City. Zhuang added that he was willing to buy the best he could afford for his son, as it would also be useful for college. Style makeovers soar Beyond just spending, the post-gaokao period provides a glimpse into how today's youth are starting to explore their identities and passions. From solo trips and comic con visits to photography workshops and fitness classes, students are using the time to pursue their personal interests. A community gym in Beijing's Xicheng District has seen a surge in visitors this June. 'We receive numerous inquiry calls daily, and many new members are recent high school graduates,' a gym staff member said. 'They hope to use the summer for structured training to enter university better prepared both physically and mentally.' Zhang Qingxi, a high school graduate from Huangping County in the southwestern province of Guizhou, began driving lessons just days after the gaokao. 'I hope to get my license this summer,' she said. 'Once I have it, I plan to travel with friends and see the places I've only read about in books.' According to Zhang, nearly 100 students who recently took the gaokao attend driving lessons at her training center daily. Many students are also taking greater interest in their appearance and personal style. Wang, a hairdresser from Xi'an, said the number of students coming in for hair dyeing has surged since the gaokao, and to keep up with the demand, the salon has even extended its hours. 'Graduates often choose trendy and unique hairstyles, and some even bring in anime-style designs from comics for inspiration,' said another hair salon employee. According to data from Meituan, orders for vision correction surgery rose by 108 per cent in the first week after the gaokao, while orders for orthodontics and teeth whitening each saw a nearly 30 per cent increase week-on-week. From test takers to decision makers Like most post-gaokao travelers, Zhao planned his trip and handled all the bookings – from train tickets to hotel reservations – largely on his own. 'We don't know much about his plan. He's an adult and it's all up to him now,' said Zhao's father. ''Post-gaokao consumption' is not only a wave of youthful spending, but also an important window into the consumption trends among younger generations,' said Long Shaobo, professor from the School of Public Policy and Administration, Chongqing University. According to Xia Ri, assistant researcher at Anbound, an independent think tank in China, high school graduates often seek novelty, quality and variety in their spending, which are traits typical of young people. 'As they gradually become independent decision-makers and key players in the market, their preferences are driving consumption toward greater personalisation and experiential value, accelerating consumption upgrades and product innovation,' Xia said. – Xinhua China gaokao national college entrance examination Xinhua
RNZ News
24-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Luxon's China visit receives mixed verdict
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon promotes New Zealand meat in Shanghai. Photo: Supplied / Prime Minister's Office and Nancy Lu MP Business leaders have delivered a mixed verdict on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's three-day trip to China in terms of its immediate impact of trade, tourism and education. A range of business agreements as well as 11 new government-to-government deals were signed on Luxon's first official visit to China. Lisa Li, managing director of China Travel Service New Zealand, said the twin tweaks to immigration settings should be a shot in the arm for New Zealand tourism and business. China Travel Service New Zealand managing director Lisa Li Photo: Supplied She said replacing transit visas with an electronic travel authority for Chinese nationals would bring additional tourism traffic to New Zealand. "We understand that passengers who visit South America are either businesspeople or high-net-worth individuals," Li said. "They are very valuable potential customers for us." Luxon delivered a presentation in a live-stream with Chinese travel agency Ctrip on 18 June, a popular mid-year shopping date in China. His appearance on the platform would also attract people to New Zealand, Li said. She applauded Tourism New Zealand's 100% Pure New Zealand campaign event in Beijing, as well as the deals reached by the two countries' airlines. The prime minister' visit was a high-profile event for the community, Li said. "Once you turn on your mobile phone ... the [many] posts that have been shared will come to your eyes," she said. "You don't have to search for it. It just keeps coming." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended a signing ceremony between BeauEver and its Chinese partner. Photo: Supplied Cosmetics company Global Empowerment NZ was one of several companies to have signed an agreement with businesses in China during the visit, inking a deal to facilitate greater cooperation between its skincare brand, BeauEver, and a Chinese partner. Luxon also announced a new government certification scheme that cleared the way for Kiwi-made cosmetics to be sold on Chinese shelves. Consumers in China can currently only purchase New Zealand cosmetic products via online channels that don't require regulatory animal testing. Tera Zhou, marketing manager of Global Empowerment NZ, said Luxon's visit would benefit trade, tourism and education as well as enhance "friendship" between the two countries. "The prime minister's announcement of replacing animal testing with new technology is a great help for the New Zealand beauty industry to enter the Chinese market," Zhou said. "BeauEver has long insisted on no animal testing, so it has ... been conducting business through cross-border e-commerce," Zhou said. "After the implementation of this new ... [certification] method, it will be a great help to our business in China." Immigration advisor Peter Luo Photo: Supplied Luxon's whirlwind visit also resulted in agreements between New Zealand education providers and Chinese universities and schools. The visit could help build political rapport and enhance bilateral relations, which could be beneficial to New Zealand's education industry, licensed immigration advisor Peter Luo said. However, wooing Chinese education officials and institutions wasn't the solution, he said. "There is a Chinese saying that 'a blacksmith must be strong'," Luo said. "Tertiary education in New Zealand should improve the quality of education." Luo said the Chinese government had invested a lot into education and top Chinese universities were far ahead of these in New Zealand academically. "Chinese parents value this very much. [New Zealand universities'] ranking is worse than their Chinese [counterparts]. Why should I send my child to study here?" Luo said. "If we don't invest in tertiary education but rely on exports of our agricultural products ... the gap between us and ... other developed countries and Australia will become larger and larger." Economics professor Robert MacCulloch Photo: Supplied Robert MacCulloch, an economics professor at the University of Auckland, said he did not think Luxon's trip would yield a lot of economic benefits. "China has for a long time been the biggest buyer for our agricultural products and I don't think there's anything particularly new in that," he said. "I think it's more on the political side that probably the visit is meant to have some significance. "It was just a traditional trade trip," he said. "For 50 years, Kiwi prime ministers [have been] trying to flog our lamb off overseas." MacCulloch also questioned New Zealand's "trade equilibrium with China". "The deal is that we sell them unlimited amounts of dairy powder agriculture, and we import all of their IT and tech at sort of relatively low prices into this country, which almost guarantees that we'll never have serious industries in that space," he said. The New Zealand Customs Service and the General Administration of China Customs have also agreed on a new pilot to trial speedier border clearance for airfreighted fresh foods.
RNZ News
23-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Business leaders deliver mixed verdict on Luxon's China visit
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon promotes New Zealand meat in Shanghai. Photo: Supplied / Prime Minister's Office and Nancy Lu MP Business leaders have delivered a mixed verdict on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's three-day trip to China in terms of its immediate impact of trade, tourism and education. A range of business agreements as well as 11 new government-to-government deals were signed on Luxon's first official visit to China. Lisa Li, managing director of China Travel Service New Zealand, said the twin tweaks to immigration settings should be a shot in the arm for New Zealand tourism and business. China Travel Service New Zealand managing director Lisa Li Photo: Supplied She said replacing transit visas with an electronic travel authority for Chinese nationals would bring additional tourism traffic to New Zealand. "We understand that passengers who visit South America are either businesspeople or high-net-worth individuals," Li said. "They are very valuable potential customers for us." Luxon delivered a presentation in a live-stream with Chinese travel agency Ctrip on 18 June, a popular mid-year shopping date in China. His appearance on the platform would also attract people to New Zealand, Li said. She applauded Tourism New Zealand's 100% Pure New Zealand campaign event in Beijing, as well as the deals reached by the two countries' airlines. The prime minister' visit was a high-profile event for the community, Li said. "Once you turn on your mobile phone ... the [many] posts that have been shared will come to your eyes," she said. "You don't have to search for it. It just keeps coming." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended a signing ceremony between BeauEver and its Chinese partner. Photo: Supplied Cosmetics company Global Empowerment NZ was one of several companies to have signed an agreement with businesses in China during the visit, inking a deal to facilitate greater cooperation between its skincare brand, BeauEver, and a Chinese partner. Luxon also announced a new government certification scheme that cleared the way for Kiwi-made cosmetics to be sold on Chinese shelves. Consumers in China can currently only purchase New Zealand cosmetic products via online channels that don't require regulatory animal testing. Tera Zhou, marketing manager of Global Empowerment NZ, said Luxon's visit would benefit trade, tourism and education as well as enhance "friendship" between the two countries. "The prime minister's announcement of replacing animal testing with new technology is a great help for the New Zealand beauty industry to enter the Chinese market," Zhou said. "BeauEver has long insisted on no animal testing, so it has ... been conducting business through cross-border e-commerce," Zhou said. "After the implementation of this new ... [certification] method, it will be a great help to our business in China." Immigration advisor Peter Luo Photo: Supplied Luxon's whirlwind visit also resulted in agreements between New Zealand education providers and Chinese universities and schools. The visit could help build political rapport and enhance bilateral relations, which could be beneficial to New Zealand's education industry, licensed immigration advisor Peter Luo said. However, wooing Chinese education officials and institutions wasn't the solution, he said. "There is a Chinese saying that 'a blacksmith must be strong'," Luo said. "Tertiary education in New Zealand should improve the quality of education." Luo said the Chinese government had invested a lot into education and top Chinese universities were far ahead of these in New Zealand academically. "Chinese parents value this very much. [New Zealand universities'] ranking is worse than their Chinese [counterparts]. Why should I send my child to study here?" Luo said. "If we don't invest in tertiary education but rely on exports of our agricultural products ... the gap between us and ... other developed countries and Australia will become larger and larger." Economics professor Robert MacCulloch Photo: Supplied Robert MacCulloch, an economics professor at the University of Auckland, said he did not think Luxon's trip would yield a lot of economic benefits. "China has for a long time been the biggest buyer for our agricultural products and I don't think there's anything particularly new in that," he said. "I think it's more on the political side that probably the visit is meant to have some significance. "It was just a traditional trade trip," he said. "For 50 years, Kiwi prime ministers [have been] trying to flog our lamb off overseas." MacCulloch also questioned New Zealand's "trade equilibrium with China". "The deal is that we sell them unlimited amounts of dairy powder agriculture, and we import all of their IT and tech at sort of relatively low prices into this country, which almost guarantees that we'll never have serious industries in that space," he said. The New Zealand Customs Service and the General Administration of China Customs have also agreed on a new pilot to trial speedier border clearance for airfreighted fresh foods.
Newsroom
22-06-2025
- Business
- Newsroom
Luxon's hot minute in the heart of the dragon
It's close to midnight as the Prime Minister swaggers down the stairs of the Airforce 757. Waiting on the tarmac next to the red carpet is the deputy mayor of Shanghai, with his ambassador to China and China's ambassador to New Zealand. Christopher Luxon needn't worry, the welcomes will get grander as the trip progresses. It's a muggy Shanghai night; Luxon doesn't linger. Into his car and the motorcade shifts into gear. His first official visit to one of the world's most consequential countries has begun. Any overseas trip takes preparation, but with China the stakes are high and the climate is … complex. Pre-trip briefings are par for the course. A security briefing from the country's spy agencies is not. Add to the growing 'to do' list: burner phone, burner computer, burner SIM, no wifi, and keep your tech and sensitive belongings on you at all times – just a suggestion, though. Day 1: Deals, deals, deals The sun rises on a 35C day in Shanghai and the dozen-strong media group bustles into the two waiting vans – or 'coasters' – to travel from their very nice hotel to the even nicer hotel where the PM and business leaders are staying. It's time for the first event of the trip: a group photo. The photographers move into position on the scorching concrete balcony high above the city, with a view out over the Bund River and the Shanghai skyline. Prep be damned. When the crowd arrives they mill around, confused. 'Shuffle left', the photographer says, 'now right, more people on that side. And smile!' It's not the last time the group will perform this awkward dance. The official party posing on Shanghai's Bund on morning one. Photo: Pool The selfies done, the group moves into a room with a trio of economics experts. They have impressive CVs and even more impressive TedTalk-esque presentation skills. They talk through global uncertainty caused by toxic tariffs, low consumer and business confidence, and the opportunities for businesses and investors presented by these challenges. The first question in the Q&A session goes to the Prime Minister. He wants to know what's behind the downturn in China's real estate market. You can take the man out of New Zealand, but you can't take the property market obsession out of the man. Ahead of the trip, Luxon names tourism and education as his two priority areas. And true to his word, the first engagement with guts is with China travel booking platform Ctrip ( After the obligatory group photo (shuffle, shuffle, switch), CTrip chief executive Jane Sun leads Luxon to an interactive wall that does little to dispel the west's dystopian future view of China's approach to tech. An eerie AI-generated female voice overlays interactive visualisations bringing to life screeds of visitor data gathered by the booking platform. The Minority Report sheen is broken by one of the data points on the digital wall. Most popular restaurant for Chinese travellers in New Zealand: Ferg Burger. The CTrip data wall. Photo: Supplied Luxon is ushered into a room to record a promotional video. The door is closed behind him. Media move to an open-air balcony to set up for the first of what will be three hot and sweaty press conferences on the trip. The questioning is dominated by visa settings for Chinese travellers. It won't be the last time that topic rears its head on the trip. The delegation piles back into the waiting vehicles – shiny black sedans with flags for ministers, coasters for officials, business heads and media. It's time to pump up the primary sector at an event showcasing grass-fed dairy at the Langham Hotel. Champagne glasses half-full of Fonterra milk sit on the tables around the room. Beside them are miniature flags from the two countries. One delegation member says the milk actually tastes better out of a champagne glass. Maybe it'll catch on back home. Champagne tastes for NZ dairy. Photo: Laura Walters In any country – but especially China – everyone wants a piece of political leaders. Luxon's presence – even if it's a 15-minute whip around – helps grease the wheels. If an unrelenting smile and a whole lot of selfies is what it takes to go for growth, then Luxon is willing. The crew shuffles back into the cars and off to New Zealand Central, where the PM announces a change that will allow kiwi cosmetic brands to export to China. There's the handshakes, the signing, and then the sampling. Luxon shifts into a past persona: Unilever sales mode. This look takes a lot of work, he says, gesturing at his face. But rather than reaching for the antipodes eye cream to put on his own face, he wrangles an unwilling member of the travelling media. Luxon does eventually agree to sample the product himself. It's a day before the PM stops commenting on the journalist's eyes. Back to the PM's hotel for another business announcement, which turns out to be one of the most significant (and unexpected) deals of the trip. The long-talked about Southern Link between China and South America, via Auckland, will be in place by the end of the year. State-owned China Eastern is particularly stoked to announce one of its government's controversial Belt and Road Initiative expansionist projects. The PM says NZ doesn't have any Belt and Road projects, and China knows that. Do they? A warning at Yu Yuan gardens. Photo: Tim Murphy Vibe switch. Luxon has swapped blue suit for blue polo (adorned with a Silver Fern) but without his name and title on it, as in the past. Until now, Luxon has kept up with the bustling metropolis of Shanghai. Now, he's transported to ancient China, walking past the dragon statues and jade gardens of Yu Yuan Gardens with writer Mang Boyong. Mang studied at Waikato University and is a best-seller. Their conversation looks riveting, but no-one can get close enough to hear, as visitors swarm around the PM. Who is this man being followed by cameras and security? A metal plaque sits beside some concrete steps: Caution! Slippery Slope. Seems appropriate. Day 2: Sweating it in Shanghai Luxon starts the day with a visit to Fudan University. After being greeted by a robot, the PM makes his way to the technology gallery, where students are waiting. Following the formal (read: dry) opening remarks, the PM has a Q&A session with the students. One asks about the use of technology and AI to better deliver healthcare – especially to rural and isolated communities. The PM says he believes AI can be used to better connect people with services. For example, if you're a young mother with two kids, it can help you understand 'the entitlements that you're entitled to'. The political journalists in the room exchange glances. Last time the PM spoke about being entitled to entitlements he ended up giving back taxpayer money. One Kiwi student learning Mandarin at Fudan asks about the importance of learning languages to build connections and understanding. Luxon responds: 'You can see we send our brightest students overseas.' Ouch. The PM talks about his quest to learn Mandarin in the '90s. He later divulges he hired a teacher to come to his office every Monday morning at 7am. The pursuit didn't last long, because there was no-one to practise with in Wellington. Perhaps he needed to get out of his bubble. From Fudan, Luxon is whisked away to meet the Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining. It's his first political meeting of the trip and it's held in a big room. This particular room is described by one member of the media delegation as 'one of the most well-lit rooms in communist party history'. All the rooms in China are big and bright. Most of the space isn't used. It feels like a big flex. After his meeting, Luxon walks outside to conduct probably the hottest press conference in history. Not in terms of the spicy questions, or the Prime Minister's hot takes, but thanks to the literal temperature, which rises past 35C (feeling more like 40C on the concrete). Sweat is soon drenching everyone there. Well, almost everyone. As Luxon Lore goes, the PM doesn't sweat. But after 20 minutes in the beating sun, beads are forming on his upper-lip. Luxon mentions the journalist's eyes again, commenting on their softness. It starts to feel uncomfortable – the joke and the heat. The motorcade swings by NZ Central to give the PM what he likes to call a bit of 'executive time'. Ostensibly it's for catching up on any reading or emails, but in this instance it's likely a chance to put his feet up, have a bite of lunch and change. Welcome to Beijing This time the welcome has military personnel lining the red carpet on the tarmac. And China's Customs Minister. Customs as in protocol? one person asks. No. Customs, as in please make sure New Zealand milk keeps flowing over the border. There's enough time to check in and shower (finally) ahead of a Matariki reception held at the New Zealand Embassy on Thursday evening. In some respects, Luxon is unlucky in his timing of the trip, between the Matariki holiday and Iran, Israel and maybe the US threatening an all-out war, the attention of the masses is elsewhere. But China watchers always be watching. Between the drinks and nibbles, Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue impresses with a breathtaking rendition of Pōkarekare Ana, a series of waiata and the crowd-pleasing Ka Mate. Following the PM's speech, Te Matatini-winning kapa haka group supports him with a waiata while Luxon stands with them. Later, Whakaata Māori asks Luxon how he feels being invited to stand with the kapa. Honoured, he says. Big day with the big names in Beijing If the first two days of the trip are hectic, the final day is high-stakes. The media pack makes its way to the Grand Hall of the People situated in the heart of Xi Jinping's seat of power. The rooms, halls and stairways inside G-Hop – as the acronym-loving foreign affairs officials say – puts the grandness of China's other very big rooms to shame. Gold-gilded marble, unfathomably large murals displaying traditional Chinese art, vases big enough for a grown adult to get inside, and yellow velvet curtains. The vast halls are lit by high-wattage bulbs in a series of chandeliers. The people walking through the rooms look like specks; utterly exposed. Travelling minister Mark Mitchell clocks the under-utilised space, and asks if he can rent a corner. It's hard to imagine the police minister getting sign-off on setting up a co-working space in CCP territory. First meeting of the day is with Zhao Leji, the chairman of China's parliamentary assembly. Chinese media includes a state archivist – the film will be kept for 100 years, he says. One of the cameramen has an earpiece that looks more security than broadcaster. On the carpet are two red stickers to indicate where Luxon and Zhao should stand. A dot for Luxon and star for Zhao. To their backs are flags from the respective countries, both crafted from paper and arranged into perfect cones. The press pack is ushered out and then it's a waiting game until Luxon's meeting with Xi. Chinese officials allow liberal media access. Photos, videos, voice recordings – it's all on the table. All 12 travelling media are granted access to the all-important Xi meeting, making the earlier bunfight over who would get the coveted spots wholly redundant. Luxon rounds the corner, flanked by his entourage. When he gets to the door, he pauses, takes a breath, pastes a smile on his face and walks into the room. A performer waiting in the wings, taking that steadying breath and putting on their persona, before stepping on the stage. Luxon with Xi. Photo: Pool The opening remarks start. Xi talks about 'ups and downs'. Luxon refers to global turmoil, calls on China to be a consistent, constructive global force. The PM shows he too can go one-for-one with one of the world's most powerful men. And then they leave, with both sides believing the relationship is 'in good heart'. Just like that, it's time to switch back to trade mode. Off to a posh department store to push kiwifruit. Think Harrods, but with a higher turnover. Then he's on a rooftop, supporting the launch of Tourism New Zealand's 100% Pure campaign. Sounds familiar. Just seven hours before his flight out, Luxon is back at China's Great Hall. And, finally, he receives the pomp and ceremony of a full military welcome. When the marching and anthems are done, Luxon and his counterpart Premier Li Qiang follow the strips of red carpet to inspect the troops. Luxon fights every instinct to not smile, say hello and shake a gun-wielding hand. Instead, a respectful nod. The PM joins the Premier for a banquet dinner. Officials and the business crew stay. The media coasters head off. Without the PM's motorcade the vans move at a crawl along China's boulevard of power. Next to the Great Hall lies Tiananmen Square. There are conspicuous security cameras throughout Beijing, but the clusters around the site of historic bloodshed are something else. No journalists allowed. Dinner has finished and the Prime Minister is running an hour early for his final press conference of the trip. Media hustle out of the local Peking Duck restaurant and move to the embassy to set up. As the sun goes down, journalists spend 25 minutes trying (mostly in vain) to squeeze details of the day's meetings out of the Prime Minister. He's met with the most powerful men from one of the world's most powerful countries, and he's staying mum. The stand-up fast becomes an exercise in creative question composition and reading between the lines. What he will say is that he sees no evidence that China is joining a fearsome foursome of Iran, Russia and North Korea to conspire against the west. That's not how Nato head Mark Rutte sees it. Will Luxon stick to this line once he's in the warm embrace of his security partners in Europe? A couple of days will tell.
