Wellington has historically taken a more conciliatory approach towards China than Australia or its other Five Eyes security partners. “Building of North Asia (markets) and the building of Southeast Asia (markets) is really, really crucial because it's de-risks that dependency,” Talbot said. CALLS FOR DIVERSIFICATIONThere is no expectation that New Zealand will stop selling to China. China needs the food and fibre that New Zealand produces and is prepared to pay for it. “China is going to be a really, really fundamental trading partner for this country for the foreseeable future,” Pete Chrisp, chief executive of government funded international business development agency New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

---

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, Xi Jinping, ”, Mathew Talbot, it's, ” Talbot, New Zealand Wang Xiaolong, “, ” Hipkins, Hipkins, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Xi, It's, Pete Chrisp, Lucy Craymer, Martin Quin Pollard, Lincoln Organizations: New Zealand, New, Alliance, National People’s, New Zealand Trade, Enterprise, Thomson Locations: China, Australia, New Zealand, Wellington, Asia, Southeast Asia, Zealand, North America, Beijing