New Zealand minister to study China's inland economic development

New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English is to leave for China this week to study economic developments in China's inland areas and potential trade and investment opportunities there.

"China is New Zealand's second largest export market. Developing and capitalizing on New Zealand's relationship with China is crucial in advancing our economic interests," English said in a statement Monday.

"I will be meeting with senior counterparts in Beijing and then traveling to Xining, the capital of fast-growing Qinghai Province which has research links with New Zealand universities. I will then visit Chengdu and Chongqing, which are two key high-growth inland areas with growing New Zealand business links," said English.

"The visit will also provide a valuable opportunity to get an on-the-ground sense of the current situation in the Chinese financial system and better understand any potential flow on effects for New Zealand." Endi