China and New Zealand signed a deal on Tuesday upgrading a free trade pact to give exports from the Pacific nation greater access to the world’s second-largest economy.

The pact comes as Beijing seeks to establish itself as a strong advocate of multilateralism after a bruising trade war with the United States, at a time when the coronavirus has forced the closure of many international borders.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed the signing of the expanded deal.

“China remains one of our most important trade partners...For this to take place during the global economic crisis bought about by COVID-19 makes it particularly important,” she told a news conference.

The pact widens an existing trade deal with China to ensure it remains fit for purpose for another decade, Trade Minister Damien O’Connor said in a statement.

It provides for tariffs to be either removed or cut on many of New Zealand’s mostly commodities-based exports, ranging from dairy to timber and seafood, while compliance costs will also be reduced.

China's multilateral push

“The upgrade shows the two sides’ firm determination to support multilateralism and free trade,” Zhao Lijian, a spokesman of China’s foreign ministry, told a news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

The previous day, speaking at a virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum, President Xi Jinping had criticised isolationism and “Cold War” thinking and called for barriers to trade, investment and technological exchange to be removed.

In recent months, Beijing has signed an investment pact with the European Union and joined the world’s largest free trade bloc in the 15-country Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which includes New Zealand.

China has also expressed interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement, the successor to a pact from which Washington withdrew.

China’s new deal with Wellington also opens up sectors such as aviation, education and finance. In exchange, New Zealand will increase visa quotas for Chinese language teachers and tour guides, the official Xinhua news agency said.

New Zealand was the first developed nation to sign a free trade pact with China in 2008, and has long been touted by Beijing as an exemplar of Western engagement.

China is now New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with annual two-way trade of more than NZ$32 billion ($21.58 billion).

But ties have been tested under Ardern’s government as New Zealand criticised China’s influence on small Pacific islands and raised human rights concerns about Muslim Uighurs.

Ardern also backed Taiwan’s participation at the World Health Organization (WHO) despite a warning from Beijing.

The wider trade pact also comes as Beijing’s ties with neighbouring Australia worsened after Canberra called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, which was first reported in central China.

Australia has appealed to the World Trade Organization to review China’s decision to impose hefty tariffs on imports of its barley.

New Zealand, which will host the regional Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this year, has said it would be willing to help negotiate a truce between China and Australia.

China and New Zealand signed a deal on Tuesday upgrading a free trade pact to give exports from the Pacific nation greater access to the world’s second-largest economy.

China and New Zealand signed a deal on Tuesday upgrading a free trade pact to give exports from the Pacific nation greater access to the world’s second-largest economy. The pact comes as Beijing seeks to establish itself as a strong advocate of multilateralism after a bruising trade war with the United States, at a time when the coronavirus has forced the closure of many international borders. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed the signing of the expanded deal. “China remains one of our most important trade partners...For this to take place during the global economic crisis bought about by COVID-19 makes it particularly important,” she told a news conference. The pact widens an existing trade deal with China to ensure it remains fit for purpose for another decade, Trade Minister Damien O’Connor said in a statement. It provides for tariffs to be either removed or cut on many of New Zealand’s mostly commodities-based exports, ranging from dairy to timber and seafood, while compliance costs will also be reduced. China's multilateral push “The upgrade shows the two sides’ firm determination to support multilateralism and free trade,” Zhao Lijian, a spokesman of China’s foreign ministry, told a news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday. The previous day, speaking at a virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum, President Xi Jinping had criticised isolationism and “Cold War” thinking and called for barriers to trade, investment and technological exchange to be removed. In recent months, Beijing has signed an investment pact with the European Union and joined the world’s largest free trade bloc in the 15-country Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which includes New Zealand. China has also expressed interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement, the successor to a pact from which Washington withdrew. China’s new deal with Wellington also opens up sectors such as aviation, education and finance. In exchange, New Zealand will increase visa quotas for Chinese language teachers and tour guides, the official Xinhua news agency said. New Zealand was the first developed nation to sign a free trade pact with China in 2008, and has long been touted by Beijing as an exemplar of Western engagement. China is now New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with annual two-way trade of more than NZ$32 billion ($21.58 billion). But ties have been tested under Ardern’s government as New Zealand criticised China’s influence on small Pacific islands and raised human rights concerns about Muslim Uighurs. Ardern also backed Taiwan’s participation at the World Health Organization (WHO) despite a warning from Beijing. The wider trade pact also comes as Beijing’s ties with neighbouring Australia worsened after Canberra called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, which was first reported in central China. Australia has appealed to the World Trade Organization to review China’s decision to impose hefty tariffs on imports of its barley. New Zealand, which will host the regional Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this year, has said it would be willing to help negotiate a truce between China and Australia.

China, New Zealand ink trade deal as Beijing calls for reduced global barriers

In a tit-for-tat move on Monday, China's foreign ministry said it will suspend its extradition agreement with New Zealand after the Jacinda Ardern government last week had suspended the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

Watch:

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New Zealand moved after China imposed the national security law amid worldwide criticism. New Zealand's foreign minister Winston Peters had said that his country "no longer trusts that Hong Kong's criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China."

"China's passage of its new national security legislation has eroded rule-of-law principles, undermined the 'one country, two systems' framework that underpins Hong Kong’s unique status, and gone against commitments China made to the international community," Winston Peters said.

New Zealand's neighbour Australia including Britan and Canada have already suspended their extradition agreements with Hong Kong amid the security law controversy. Germany has also suspended the extradition treaty with Hong Kong last week.

German foreign minister Heiko Maas said that decision was due to Hong Kong's government's "decision to disqualify a dozen opposition candidates for the election and to postpone the elections."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Switzerland's foreign minister Ignazio Cassis said that China was "straying away" from the path of openness. "If China abandons the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle in the case of Hong Kong, it also affects many Swiss companies that have invested there," Cassis told a local newspaper.

Amid the large scale protests and resulting criticism, Hong Kong had last week postponed local elections for a year due to the coronavirus outbreak as China's state media reported that Hong Kong police have ordered the arrest of six pro-democracy activists living in exile on suspicion of violating the national security law.

The list included Nathan Law who has fled to the UK after China imposed the harsh new security law.

In a tit-for-tat move on Monday, China's foreign ministry said it will suspend its extradition agreement with New Zealand after the Jacinda Ardern government last week had suspended the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

In a tit-for-tat move on Monday, China's foreign ministry said it will suspend its extradition agreement with New Zealand after the Jacinda Ardern government last week had suspended the extradition treaty with Hong Kong. Watch: New Zealand moved after China imposed the national security law amid worldwide criticism. New Zealand's foreign minister Winston Peters had said that his country "no longer trusts that Hong Kong's criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China." "China's passage of its new national security legislation has eroded rule-of-law principles, undermined the 'one country, two systems' framework that underpins Hong Kong’s unique status, and gone against commitments China made to the international community," Winston Peters said. New Zealand's neighbour Australia including Britan and Canada have already suspended their extradition agreements with Hong Kong amid the security law controversy. Germany has also suspended the extradition treaty with Hong Kong last week. German foreign minister Heiko Maas said that decision was due to Hong Kong's government's "decision to disqualify a dozen opposition candidates for the election and to postpone the elections." Meanwhile, Switzerland's foreign minister Ignazio Cassis said that China was "straying away" from the path of openness. "If China abandons the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle in the case of Hong Kong, it also affects many Swiss companies that have invested there," Cassis told a local newspaper. Amid the large scale protests and resulting criticism, Hong Kong had last week postponed local elections for a year due to the coronavirus outbreak as China's state media reported that Hong Kong police have ordered the arrest of six pro-democracy activists living in exile on suspicion of violating the national security law. The list included Nathan Law who has fled to the UK after China imposed the harsh new security law.

Now, China suspends extradition agreement with New Zealand

China has accused New Zealand&nbsp;"gross interference in China's internal affairs" and ''serious violation of international law'' after it suspended&nbsp;its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

According to statement by a spokesperson of the&nbsp;Chinese embassy in Wellington,&nbsp;"The New Zealand government's decision is a serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. It is a gross interference in China's internal affairs. The Chinese side has lodged its grave concern and strong opposition," the embassy said in a statement.

"Hong Kong affairs are entirely China's internal affairs, and allow no foreign interference.''

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-suspends-its-extradition-treaty-with-hong-kong-316380">New Zealand suspends its extradition treaty with Hong Kong</a>

Earlier,&nbsp;New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters had&nbsp;announced the suspension saying "New Zealand can no longer trust that Hong Kong's criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China".

The country took this step despite risking the ire of Wellington's largest trading partner.&nbsp;

Canada, Britain and Australia, who are New Zealand's partners in the so-called "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance have taken similar action. The United States has given a hint of doing the same in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

Critics view this new security law as an erosion of civil liberties and human rights in the financial hub, which has been semi-autonomous from China since its handover from Britain in 1997.

China has accused New Zealand "gross interference in China's internal affairs" and ''serious violation of international law'' after it suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

China has accused New Zealand "gross interference in China's internal affairs" and ''serious violation of international law'' after it suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong. According to statement by a spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Wellington, "The New Zealand government's decision is a serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. It is a gross interference in China's internal affairs. The Chinese side has lodged its grave concern and strong opposition," the embassy said in a statement. "Hong Kong affairs are entirely China's internal affairs, and allow no foreign interference.'' Also read: New Zealand suspends its extradition treaty with Hong Kong Earlier, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters had announced the suspension saying "New Zealand can no longer trust that Hong Kong's criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China". The country took this step despite risking the ire of Wellington's largest trading partner. Canada, Britain and Australia, who are New Zealand's partners in the so-called "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance have taken similar action. The United States has given a hint of doing the same in the coming weeks. Critics view this new security law as an erosion of civil liberties and human rights in the financial hub, which has been semi-autonomous from China since its handover from Britain in 1997.

China accuses New Zealand of violating international law over Hong Kong move