Peters denies NZ exporters having problems in China
WELLINGTON: Foreign Minister Winston Peters has rejected claims by National that New Zealand exporters are experiencing delays at Chinese ports.
And he has criticised concerns by New Zealand businessman in China David Mahon about the state of the relationship, saying he does not have inside knowledge.
Mr Peters challenged deputy National leader Paula Bennett to show some evidence after she made the suggestion in Parliament, but none was forthcoming.
‘‘There are no delays on our ports or Chinese ports at this point in time,’’ Mr Peters said.
‘‘In fact if you look at the growth in exports, the growth in intercountry travel, the growth in expenditure between China and New Zealand, it’s all gone up in the last year dramatically.’’
No businessman or woman had raised the issue with the Government, he said.
Mr Peters has downplayed the strains in New Zealand’s relationship with China, which have been most recently marked by China’s Government cancelling a visit of a delegation to launch the ChinaNew Zealand Year of Tourism.
He also said he had spoken to China’s ambassador Wu Xi at a function at Parliament on Wednesday and she had invited him to dinner.
Mr Peters said suggestions Chinese authorities had turned back an Air New Zealand plane at the weekend were wrong and there had been no communication with China before the decision was taken.
Air New Zealand itself took the decision to return the plane to Auckland when it realised midflight it did not have proper permission to land the plane, rather than risk being turned back from Shanghai.
Regarding a suggestion five Cabinet ministers were waiting for permission from China to visit, Mr Peters said none had made an application for a visa, although he did not confirm China was withholding permission for their visits.
National was asked for specifics about trade delays but they did not provide them.
Foreign affairs and trade spokesman Todd McClay said in a statement: ‘‘We are hearing increasing reports of exporters facing problems with exports to China.’’
He said New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) had told a select committee it had started to receive calls and was now going to look into those concerns.
But NZTE actually avoided any suggestion at the committee that problems being faced by exporters were bigger than the normal problems faced in that market.
Mr Peters dismissed the views of leading Kiwi businessman in Beijing David Mahon who said this week that New Zealand’s previously ‘‘brilliant’’ relationship with China had almost reversed.
Mr Mahon has lived and worked in China since 1984.
Mr Peters responded: ‘‘He’s outside the Government; I’m inside it. That’s the difference. ‘‘Has he got a good link into the Beijing political administration? No.
‘‘We’ve got a better [link] than that so I’m relaxed about what I’m saying.’’ — NZME