1月26日，中国和新西兰自由贸易协定（FTA）升级版终于签署。在新冠肺炎疫情给全球经济增长和社会治理带来巨大挑战之时，中国与新西兰之间的贸易关系得到了进一步的巩固和提升，这对于双方而言，都是巨大且拥有重要意义的一份协议。

在中新FTA的升级版签订后，新西兰驻华大使傅恩莱接受了《中国经营报》记者的采访。在采访中，她提到：“升级后的中新自由贸易协定，是新西兰政府应对疫情冲击而实施的贸易复苏战略的一部分。”

当下，全球经济都处在新冠肺炎疫情不确定性的影响之下，中国则是当下疫情最为稳定和控制最为得力的国家。中国与新西兰的贸易故事，显然有着更大的想象空间。

《中国经营报》：中新自贸协定升级，对两国的经贸、投资有哪些重要影响？

傅恩莱：新西兰－中国自由贸易协定于2008年生效。自由贸易协定对两国来说，都是成功的故事。 它开辟了重要的贸易和经济机会，并在许多领域促进了双方更紧密的经济合作。 但是自中新FTA生效10多年来，商业实践已经发生了变化。此次升级确保自贸协定现代化、适用于当今贸易环境，进一步加深双方的经贸关系。

《中国经营报》：作为第一个与中国签订自贸协定的发达国家，此次协定的升级，您认为哪些内容有了明显的突破，更有实际意义？

傅恩莱：新西兰和中国的出口商都将从升级后的贸易规则中受益，包括简化流程、降低合规成本，以及在某些领域获得新的市场准入。

在现代化方面，升级后的协议包含了一些双方合作的新章节，例如竞争政策、电子商务和政府采购。升级版协定还更加关注环境问题，包括促进环境保护的承诺，以及不会为了贸易和投资优势而降低环境保护标准的承诺。

《中国经营报》：中国已连续多年成为新西兰第一大贸易伙伴和第二大外资来源国，按照升级协定，新西兰对中国投资者的审查门槛大幅放宽，请问中方近些年对新西兰的投资主要集中在哪些领域，投资门槛的放宽，对吸引中国投资、带动当地经济发展有什么影响？新西兰更欢迎哪些领域的中国投资？

傅恩莱：新西兰欢迎来自所有国家高质量、富有成效的投资。目前，中国对新西兰的投资通常分散在初级产业、基础设施和商业开发，以及制造业中。

《中国经营报》：在贸易领域，新西兰哪些产品进入中国市场将更具竞争力？新西兰企业是否有进一步扩大对华投资的计划？

傅恩莱：中国是新西兰最大的贸易伙伴，目前，双向货物贸易和服务贸易每年超过320亿新西兰元，是2008年首次签署自由贸易协定时的3倍多。这一增长表明，两国产品在彼此的市场中都具有一定的竞争力。

新西兰有一些高品质食品，例如水果、肉、海鲜和乳制品，受到中国消费者的追捧。（此次协定）升级包括对易腐货物的承诺，以便在可能的情况下获得快速通关。这将帮助新西兰新鲜食品更快地进入中国市场。

《中国经营报》：最近，双方在区域贸易协定和双边贸易协定方面都取得了大的进展，您如何看待RCEP和中新FTA升级的签署？将对中新两国的经贸关系以及自由贸易带来哪些影响？

傅恩莱：新西兰和中国都做出了区域承诺，以保持必要的贸易往来。正如新西兰贸易和出口增长部长达米安·奥康纳（Damien O’Connor）在签署FTA升级议定书后所说，此次协定升级时值新冠肺炎疫情强烈干扰全球经济。RCEP与升级后的中新自由贸易协定，都是新西兰政府为应对疫情造成的经济冲击而实施的贸易复苏战略的一部分。就像RCEP一样，中国和新西兰自由贸易协定的升级，表明了两国致力于推动自由和开放的贸易，以及以规则为基础的贸易体系。

《中国经营报》： RCEP和中新FTA中，如果有不同的关税减让要求，在实际的贸易往来中，按哪个执行？

傅恩莱：中国和新西兰自由贸易协定升级版，建立在RCEP达成的多项成果的基础上，例如，RCEP中未包含的对木材和纸制品的关税减免承诺，富有雄心的环境章节，更有力的服务贸易承诺，为促进货物贸易而做出的新承诺，在电子商务问题上更广泛的合作与对话机制，以及在竞争性政策和电子商务章节中，增加额外的消费者保护条款。

《中国经营报》：未来新西兰方面对吸引中国投资还有哪些举措？

傅恩莱：新西兰贸易发展局与中国投资者有着长期而积极的关系，这使得在乳制品、肉类加工、旅游业等领域当中，都有关键投资。升级后的中国-新西兰自由贸易协定，强化了两国之间的关系。对于投资而言，这从来都是一种长期的伙伴关系。

《中国经营报》：新西兰在中国加入CPTPP中，会发挥怎样的作用？

傅恩莱：新西兰欢迎对CPTPP感兴趣且愿意满足协定高标准的相关方。CPTPP的加入指南列出了相关方面加入CPTPP的流程，未来任何有关加入该协定的决定，都将由CPTPP的成员集体做出。

以下为英文采访记录：

China Business Journal：What are the important impacts of the upgrading of China-New Zealand FTA on the economy, trade and investment of the two countries?

Clare Fearnley：The New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement entered into force in 2008. The FTA has been a success story for both countries. It has opened up significant trade and economic opportunities and has been a catalyst for closer economic cooperation across a number of areas. But business practices have evolved since the FTA came into force more than a decade ago. This upgrade ensures the agreement is modern, fit-for-purpose, and deepens our economic relationship further.

China Business Journal：As the first developed country to sign a free trade agreement with China, what significant breakthroughs that carry more practical meaning have been made in the upgrading of this agreement?

Clare Fearnley：Both New Zealand and Chinese exporters will benefit from the upgraded trade rules including through easier processes, reduced compliance costs, and new market access in some areas.

In terms of modernisation, the upgrade includes new chapters on cooperation, including competition policy, e-commerce, and government procurement, and it puts an increased focus on environmental issues, including commitments to promote environment protection and a commitment not to lower environmental standards for a trade or investment advantage.

China Business Journal：China has become New Zealand's largest trading partner and the second largest source of foreign investment for many years in a row. According to the upgrade agreement, New Zealand's review threshold for Chinese investors has been greatly relaxed. What are the main areas of China's investment in New Zealand in recent years? What is the impact of the relaxation of the investment threshold on attracting Chinese investment and driving local economic development? What areas of investment does New Zealand welcome more from China?

Clare Fearnley：New Zealand welcomes high quality and productive foreign investment into the New Zealand economy from all countries. Chinese investment into New Zealand has typically been spread across the primary sector, infrastructure and commercial development, and manufacturing.

China Business Journal：In the field of trade, what New Zealand products will be more competitive in the Chinese market? Do New Zealand enterprises have plans to further expand investment in China?

Clare Fearnley：China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with two-way goods and services trade now exceeding $32 billion a year – more than triple the amount of trade in 2008 when the FTA was first signed. This growth shows that the products from both countries are competitive in each other’s market.

New Zealand’s high quality food products such as fruits, meat, seafood, and dairy, are sought after by Chinese consumers. The Upgrade includes a commitment for perishable goods to receive expedited customs clearance wherever possible. This will help New Zealand fresh food products get to consumers in the Chinese market more quickly.

China Business Journal：Recently, both sides have made great progress in regional trade agreements and bilateral trade agreements. What’s your view on the signing of RCEP and the upgrading of China-New Zealand FTA? What impact will they bring to the economic and trade relations and free trade between China and New Zealand?

Clare Fearnley：Both New Zealand and China have given regional undertakings to keep essential trade flowing. As New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Export Growth, Damien O’Connor said after the signing of the FTA Upgrade, this comes at a time of considerable global economic disruption due to COVID-19. Both RCEP and the upgraded free trade agreement with China are part of the New Zealand Government’s trade recovery strategy, in response to the economic shock of COVID-19. Like RCEP, the Upgrade is a demonstration of the commitment both countries place on free and open trade and the rules-based trading system.

China Business Journal：If there are different tariff reduction requirements in RCEP and China-New Zealand FTA, which one should be implemented in actual trade?

Clare Fearnley：The China FTA upgrade builds upon a number of the outcomes achieved in RCEP, including among other things: tariff elimination commitments on wood and paper products not contained in RCEP; an ambitious environment chapter; stronger services commitments; new commitments to facilitate goods trade; more extensive mechanisms for cooperation and dialogue on electronic commerce issues; and additional consumer protection provisions in the competition policy and e-commerce chapters.

China Business Journal：What measures will New Zealand take to attract Chinese investment in the future?

Clare Fearnley：NZTE has enjoyed a long-standing and positive relationship with Chinese investors, which has led to key investments in sectors like dairy, meat processing and tourism. The upgraded Free Trade Agreement enhances the relationship between the two countries; for investment, it is always about a long-term partnership.

China Business Journal：What role will New Zealand play in China's joining the CPTPP? In what way?

Clare Fearnley：New Zealand welcomes interest in the CPTPP by those willing to meet the Agreement’s high standards. The CPTPP accession guidelines set out the process for interested parties. Any future decisions on accessions will need to made by CPTPP members collectively.