Sichuan deal opens doors for exporters

By IRENE CHAPPLE

"I wish all agreements were that quick," muttered one of the New Zealand party after five minutes of niceties were closed by a smile, two signatures and a restrained pop as the sparkling wine was uncorked.

Victor Percival reckons it has taken 10 years for him to get this co-operation agreement between New Zealand and China signed.

Yesterday he felt: "Well, very pleased."

Indeed. Percival has been promoting China and New Zealand trade relations since the 1950s and this agreement - despite being at provincial level only - formalises ease of access to 90 million potential consumers who live in Sichuan.

Percival says the southwest province was a pioneer in China's economic reforms and its signing of the agreement is an encouraging omen for the free-trade negotiations.

The progress towards a free-trade deal between New Zealand and China gave Percival an "umbrella" under which the lower-tier friendship agreements can be advanced.

Percival - despite now being retired from his role as New Zealand China Trade Association chairman - went to Auckland's Sheraton Hotel yesterday to sign alongside the director of the Sichuan Provincial Investment Promotion Bureau, Tang Li Min.

The agreement gives the 100-odd members of the New Zealand China Trade Association access to high-level bureaucrats in the Sichuan province.

It is focused on agriculture, animal husbandry, forest industry and the tourism sector.

The parties have made several commitments: to visit each other, help find business partners, co-operate with training and find investors.

Percival - then exporting wool - signed the first reciprocal agreement with a Chinese company in 1958 and has remained a strong proponent of co-operation between the countries.

"When Britain joined the European Union I knew they would never get excited about us holding on to their apron strings ... [negotiating trade agreements with China] was just logic."