Taiwan & New Zealand Forge New Trade Paths Amidst Global Shifts

President Lai Ching-te Advocates for Enhanced Cooperation in Key Sectors.

Taipei, April 17 – In a move signaling stronger international partnerships, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) expressed Taiwan's keen interest in expanding trade and business opportunities with New Zealand during a meeting with a visiting parliamentary delegation.

The discussions, held Thursday in Taipei, focused on collaborative efforts to explore diverse markets and strengthen economic ties. President Lai highlighted key areas for cooperation, including smart agriculture, food manufacturing, biomedicine, the digital economy, and clean energy. These sectors represent opportunities for both nations to drive economic and industrial development in the face of global challenges.

President Lai emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation to address the evolving global landscape, without explicitly specifying particular challenges. This initiative comes as Taiwan seeks to diversify its markets, particularly following recent actions impacting Taiwanese goods.

Furthermore, President Lai underscored the role of democracies in upholding peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, especially considering the rising influence of authoritarian regimes.

Stuart Smith, a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, highlighted shared security interests in the region, referencing New Zealand's recent naval presence in the Taiwan Strait. This action, involving a New Zealand military vessel's passage alongside an Australian one, served to uphold freedom of navigation.

Smith underscored the importance of open access for imports and exports for both Taiwan and New Zealand, advocating for closer trade relations between the two. The delegation also included Tangi Utikere, Jamie Arbuckle, Greg Fleming, Hamish Campbell, Cameron Luxton and Helen White.

The New Zealand delegation's visit, which began on April 13, also included members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan, established in 2023, demonstrating a commitment to fostering stronger bilateral relations.