Seminar sees Belt and Road Initiative opportunity for New Zealand, Oceania

AUCKLAND - The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is "a huge opportunity for Oceania, not only New Zealand," the president of the New Zealand National Party said.

Peter Goodfellow made the remarks here Friday at the New Zealand-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Seminar hosted by the Oceania Silk Road Network (OSRN).

Goodfellow, also OSRN's honorary chairman, said "We are determined to take advantage of further opportunities" brought by the initiative.

"We sought for an efficient mechanism to enable entities in the two countries to connect and work together," he said, adding "We are more than a trade organization, but a comprehensive and inclusive platform delivering connections across all spectra."

Chinese Consul General in Auckland Xu Erwen noted that the initiative will benefit the world, saying "We believe that the Belt and Road Initiative will be a wonderful stage for international cooperation."

Paul Goldsmith, New Zealand's former minister of Science and Innovation, said "From New Zealand's point of view, we are obviously particularly interested in the elements of that group (Belt and Road), which are in favor of removing barriers to trade."

"So we watch on in a world where there is increasingly a future of nervousness, but also with a determination to maintain strong relationship that could promote trade and prosperity," he said.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road.