New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said the New-Zealand Free Trade Agreement provided a new platform for growing business and investment links with China, describing the signing as "a very significant achievement."

In a written interview with Xinhua, Clark said the New Zealand- China ties have been in very good health since the two countries established full diplomatic relations in 1972. Both governments have worked to increase dialogue on a range of important regional and international issues.

The New Zealand prime minister, accompanied by a 150-member trade delegation, arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a three-day official visit. She witnessed the signing of the FTA in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Monday, along with her Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao.

In the interview, Clark said she was confident that the broad- based relationship between New Zealand and China will be further strengthened by the signing of the FTA.

"We want to work with our Chinese friends to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for our two countries. Our success will help raise awareness and understanding and create new opportunities to work together," said Clark.

"This is a very important outcome for New Zealand," Clark said. "It demonstrates that we can work effectively with one of the world's major economies."

It also highlighted China's ability to engage with and to negotiate a high quality FTA with a developed economy, she added.

The FTA will open up new economic opportunities for New Zealand business in China and boost their existing commercial links, and create new investment possibilities in both directions, she said.

"It should also assist in raising the commercial profile for New Zealand companies in China, especially since New Zealand is the first developed country to conclude a comprehensive FTA with China," said the New Zealand prime minister.

Clark said New Zealand offers an open investment environment and a good number of Chinese interests have already pursued opportunities across a wide front. "I am sure that we will see further high quality Chinese investment interest as a result of the FTA."

Clark hoped for more Chinese visitors to New Zealand, saying Air New Zealand's direct flights between Shanghai and Auckland were very popular.

"Air New Zealand has recently announced direct flights to Beijing as well which we anticipate will have further positive benefits on visitor flows," said Clark.

The New Zealand prime minister said the 2008 Olympics is an important opportunity for China to showcase its remarkable progress and new capabilities to the world. "New Zealand plans to send a large team to the Olympics and we hope the Games are a great success."

Clark said New Zealand encourages China to engage constructively with Pacific Island countries. "It is important that China works with the countries of the region to identify their needs and that it promotes sustainable development of the region's resources," she said.

Clark also said 9 percent of New Zealand's population are now of Asian ethnicity and the Labor-led New Zealand government, for the first time, released a white paper entitled "Our Future with Asia" in October last year.

The major themes in the white paper include the need for New Zealand to make long-term, sustained commitment to Asia, she said.

"Our relationships with China and other nations in Asia are becoming more mature, and they are delivering greater mutual benefit as a result," said Clark.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2008)