New Zealand, Australia and China's Rise
Public Symposium
New Zealand, Australia and China's Rise
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Overview
This public symposium was held at Victoria University of Wellington at the Council Chamber, Level 2, Hunter Building, Kelburn Parade on Thursday 7 April from 8.30-5.00pm.
The growing impact China is having on New Zealand, Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region was discussed by experts from both sides of the Tasman at a special one-day public symposium at Victoria on Thursday.
The event brought together leading New Zealand analysts, officials and commentators with experts from Australian think-tanks including Australia's Lowy Institute for International Policy and the Australian National University's Centre for China in the World and Strategic and Defence Studies Centre. It was opened by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Murray McCully.
"Not too long ago, China was remote from us but has become an everyday part of our lives," says Professor Huang Xiaoming of the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre which co-hosted the symposium.
China is Australia's largest trading partner and New Zealand's second largest and its influence on trade and investment in the region was a key theme at the symposium says Professor Huang. Among the speakers were representative from Fonterra, which has significant business operations in China.
"China is increasingly playing an active role in the Pacific, in regional forums, and in international issues that affect New Zealand and Australia," says Professor Robert Ayson of Victoria University‘s Centre for Strategic Studies. "The Asia-Pacific balance is shifting and China's rise is central to that change. How do Australia and New Zealand feel about that?" Professor Huang says having both New Zealand and Australian experts at the symposium made sense.
"We face similar issues but sometimes respond to them differently and have had different experiences in dealing with China."
Sponsors
This event was sponsored and organised by The New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre and The Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand, with co-sponsers:
Lowy Institute for International Policy
Strategic and Defence Studies Centre
Australian National University
The Australian Centre on China in the World
Asia New Zealand Foundation
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NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Related Resources
Watch the videos from the Symposium
Read Asia New Zealand's article on the symposium
Download the Symposium Programme
PDF, 237KB