Parliamentary Delegation to visit China, Japan and Hong Kong
The Speaker, Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt, will lead a multi party delegation of parliamentarians to China, Japan and Hong Kong
during the recess of Parliament this month.
The delegation comprises Mr Hunt, and four MPs from different parties: Mr Doug Woolerton, (New Zealand First); Dr Lynda
Scott (National); Dr Muriel Newman (ACT); and Ms Lynne Pillay (Labour).
It aims to advance New Zealand interests in the region and to strengthen our important and wide-ranging relations with
China and Japan by cementing parliamentary contacts. The delegation will meet with members of the new Chinese leadership
who were appointed earlier in the year and senior members of the Japanese government.
China and Hong Kong SAR
New Zealand has a strong and growing bilateral relationship with China built on steadily developing trade and economic
flows, regular high-level political dialogue and rapidly expanding people-to-people contacts. China is New Zealand’s
fourth largest trading partner overall and our fourth largest market for exports. Last year New Zealand received 76,500
short-term visitors from China - up a massive 44% from 2001 - making China our fastest growing tourism market. China is
also our largest source of foreign students with over 30,000 studying here last year.
The visit provides the opportunity to meet with some of the “fourth generation” of Chinese leaders who were elected by
the Chinese legislature (the National People’s Congress) earlier in the year. The new Chairman of the National People’s
Congress, Wu Bangguo, will host the delegation during the China leg of the visit.
A New Zealand Speaker last visited China in April 1994.
The delegation will meet with Chinese parliamentarians and senior officials to discuss political, social and economic
developments in China, including opportunities created by China’s hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games. The Three Gorges
Dam Project will be inspected on the way to Shanghai - China’s economic hub. The delegation will tour New Zealand
enterprises there and explore ways of enhancing access for New Zealand exporters.
During a brief stop-over in Hong Kong SAR the delegation will meet with counterparts from the Legislative Council.
Japan
New Zealand enjoys a well established and wide ranging relationship with Japan. Japan is New Zealand’s third largest
trading partner, with two-way merchandise trade totalling over $7.4 million. Trade in services, particularly tourism and
education, also provides a major contribution to bilateral relations. Strong ties at the political level are reflected
by regular high level visits in both directions. Japan and New Zealand share mutual interests in a wide range of
economic, security and political issues. Extensive people-to-people linkages, including 41 sister city relationships,
further underscore the ties between New Zealand and Japan.
The President of Japan’s Upper House, the House of Councillors, Mr Hiroyuki Kurata, will host the delegation during
their time in Japan. The visit provides the opportunity for the delegation to meet with their Japanese counterparts, and
observe Japan’s parliamentary system, including calls on Ministers and parliamentary committees. Mr Speaker will also
have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.
The delegation will also travel to Hiroshima and visit that city’s Peace Park, as well as visit the ancient Japanese
capital of Kyoto – a key focal point in the Kansai region, which has strong cultural and economic links with New
Zealand.
The last visit to Japan by a New Zealand Speaker was in April 1994. The Deputy Speaker of Japan’s Lower House visited
Wellington in August this year.
The Japanese and Chinese Governments will meet the expenses of the delegation, as guests of government, throughout the
visit.