Co-hosted by the State Administration for Market Regulation of P.R.China, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Silk-road Planning and Research Center, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Belt and Road Eco-agriculture and Food Safety Forum was successfully held on November 6, 2020 at the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center.

H.E. Clare Fearnley, Ambassador of New Zealand to China attended the Forum and delivered a speech.


Meeting New Demands of New Age, and Promoting High Quality Development of Dairy Products.

CIIE, Shanghai
Ambassador Clare Fearnley
6 November 2020
 
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.
  
It’s my pleasure to join you here today at the Thirteenth Belt and Road Eco-Agriculture and Food Safety Forum. I would like to thank the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries for the opportunity to speak at the ‘Meeting New Demands of New Age, and Promoting High Quality Development of Dairy Products’ session today.
  
2020 has been a challenging year for us all, with the global pandemic having a significant impact on the lives of so many, and changing the way we communicate and do business. The pandemic has reinforced the importance of open trade and ensuring consumers having access to safe and nutritious food. New Zealand’s active presence here again at this 3^rd CIIE demonstrates the importance we place on our trading relationship with China and our commitment to a global rules based trading system.
  
Today, at CIIE, I had the opportunity to visit number of the trade pavilions on show here again at this important event. It was heartening to see New Zealand’s agriculture and food export industries showing a strong presence.
  
China is a very important and long-standing partner for New Zealand in the trade of food and primary products, including dairy products.
  
Perhaps more than any other developed economy, New Zealand's economy benefits directly from a reputation as a  reliable producer and exporter of safe and high-quality food. More than 90% of the food we produce is exported to over 150 markets around the world.  China is by the far the most import of those markets, accounting for nearly a third of all New Zealand food and primary product exports.
 
Throughout our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand's farmers, growers and processors were designated as an “essential service” and were able to continue to export safe and high-quality food.  This was not only important for our economy, but also in recognition of the responsibility we have to contribute to regional food security. 
  
For many, New Zealand is synonymous with food production. The dairy industry is our largest primary industry exporter.  It plays an important role in the economy of New Zealand, as well as our history, culture and society. The expertise that has been honed and developed over many generations has seen New Zealand become the world’s largest exporter of high-quality, safe and innovative dairy products.  
  
China is a very important market for New Zealand dairy exports, representing  a third of our total dairy product exports in 2019.  While the bulk of these dairy exports are ingredients for China’s food manufacturers, a growing proportion of our trade is in innovative high-quality dairy products for consumers and the food service sector, such as liquid products, cheese and infant formula.  
 
The New Zealand dairy sector continues to be at the forefront of innovation at all levels of the dairy production system, from the use of precision agriculture techniques on farms to manage water and nutrient application, through to new and innovative dairy products designed to meet specific consumer tastes in markets such as China (e.g. cream cheese specialty teas).  
  
The relationship is not just about trade in dairy products though. New Zealand and China had a long-standing, active agriculture cooperation programme, and dairy production plays a significant role in this programme.  
  
China and New Zealand’s cooperation includes two-way investment, and government-to-government collaboration in areas such as food safety, trade facilitation, milk quality research and standards, dairy farmer training, and dairy animal breeding and health. Our aim is to promote industry and economic development in both countries that delivers mutual benefit to producers and consumers.
  
As we look to the future, deepening cooperation in support of open and vibrant trade is evermore important as we respond to global challenges such as the pandemic, and create opportunities for innovation in the sustainable production and supply of safe and nutritious food  for all. Meetings like this are important to support exchange and dialogue toward this goal. And so I would once again like to thank Youxie for today’s invitation.
  
With our joint efforts, I look forward to seeing New Zealand and China’s cooperation in agriculture and the trade of safe and high-quality dairy products and other food continue to expand in the coming years.