Buzz from the Beehive
News of the PM’s plans to visit Japan are recorded on the government’s official website today. News of the Chinese Premier’s plans to visit New Zealand this week are not.
Point of Order shall leave it to foreign affairs pundits to explain why this has happened.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly is up and away, too. He is travelling to Singapore today to attend scam and fraud prevention meetings.
But regardless of the importance of this country’s relationships with China and Japan, much comment – for and against – s bound to be generated by the announcement that
… the Government will deliver on its election commitment to take agriculture out of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) and will establish a new Pastoral Sector Group to constructively tackle biogenic methane, Coalition Government Agriculture and Climate Change Ministers say.
Greenies will be outraged. Farmers will welcome the decision but grumble that the government has not gone far enough.
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Luxon Tokyo-bound for political and business visit
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Japan from 16-20 June, his first visit as Prime Minister.
Bayly travels to Singapore for scam prevention meetings
Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Andrew Bayly, travels to Singapore today to attend scam and fraud prevention meetings.
Your Buzz correspondent happens to be overseas too for a fortnight but thanks to the internet can keep up with the news that ministers post on the Beehive website and the news that they don’t post there.
Yep – we can plug into RNZ – for example – to learn:
Chinese Premier Li Qiang to visit New Zealand
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand this week, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.
It is the first visit by a premier of China since former Premier Li Keqiang in 2017.
Li’s visit includes bilateral talks, an official dinner and engagements in both Auckland and Wellington focused on innovative business, agri-tech, education, and people-to-people connections, Luxon said.
The visit marks 10 years since the conclusion of the New Zealand China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Luxon said the visit was a “valuable opportunity for exchanges on areas of cooperation”.
“New Zealand and China engage where we have shared interests, and we speak frankly and constructively with each other where we have differences. Our relationship is significant, complex, and resilient,” Luxon said.
“The challenging global outlook makes it vital that we are sharing perspectives and engaging China on key issues that matter to New Zealand.”
New Zealand had a lot to offer its largest trading partner, Luxon said.
“I am confident that trade with China will continue to grow, supporting the government’s goal to double the value of exports in the next decade.”
Both RNZ and the government’s publicity team have put us in the picture about the PM’s visit to Japan.
The Beehive announcement says Luxon will travel to Japan from 16-20 June, his first visit as Prime Minister.
Almost as an afterthought – it is the final sentence of the press statement – he says he will be accompanied by his wife Amanda Luxon and Minister for Trade Todd McClay.
He informs us that Japan is the world’s fourth largest economy, and our fourth largest export destination.
The economy is his number one priority. This is reflected in the structure of the press statement:
“A strong economy means we can invest in more of the areas that New Zealanders need, such as health, education, and law and order.
“Our trade relationship is a key plank to economic success. We are a small, geographically isolated country that relies on exporting our goods to the world.
“If we are to maximise our economic growth, we will need to continue to strengthen international relationships to meet our ambitious target of doubling the value of our exports in the next ten years.
“I am excited to be accompanied by a senior business delegation, who share my ambition for this country and will work closely with me to showcase the very best New Zealand has to offer,” Mr Luxon says.
“As well as being known for our high-quality products and services, we will be promoting New Zealand as an attractive destination for Japanese investors, tourists and students.”
Only then does Luxon mention that in an increasingly contested world, Japan is a natural strategic partner for New Zealand.
He does not expand on this, other than blandly saying:
“I’m looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and sharing perspectives on global and regional issues, as well as agreeing some concrete ways New Zealand and Japan can step up our cooperation in relation to defence and security.”
While in Japan, Mr Luxon will celebrate strong rugby connections and space cooperation alongside hosting business and innovation events.
Point of Order 