1 Apr 2010

New Zealand, China sign agriculture co-operation deal

2:43 pm on 1 April 2010

Agriculture Minister David Carter has signed a dairy co-operation arrangement with China's Agriculture Minister, Han Changfu.

Mr Carter has been on a week-long visit to China, leading a delegation of New Zealand agricultural technology companies.

He says the signing formalises the China-New Zealand Dairy Dialogue, a forum which encourages exchanges of views between government and business representatives.

China is New Zealand's second-biggest trading partner.

Mr Carter says the governments of both countries are working closely together in the areas of agricultural development and food safety, and discussions this week have further strengthened the economic relationship.

He says China's agriculture minister has voiced support for the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases that New Zealand initiated.

China is not one of the 28 countries that have signed up so far. But it is sending officials as observers to the first meeting of the alliance in Wellington next week. South Korea is also sending observers.