Ashley Taggart, a partner at Lane Neave law firm in New Zealand and a longtime observer of China-New Zealand diplomatic relations, said the firm believes that the two nations will overcome the pandemic's negative impacts, continue to facilitate investments and further deepen bilateral cooperation.

An upgrade to China's free trade agreement with New Zealand took effect this month. It further opens markets for goods, services and investment while optimizing rules to promote trade facilitation, Xinhua News Agency reported. Bilateral cooperation will also be strengthened in e-commerce, competition policy, government procurement, the environment and trade, according to the protocol.

It is also the first free trade upgrade agreement between China and a developed country. China signed the FTA with New Zealand in 2008, its first with a developed country.

The upgraded FTA will complement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement signed in 2020 by 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including China and New Zealand. The RCEP agreement, which took effect on Jan 1, covers some 30 percent of the world's population. It is expected to help facilitate trade liberalization and economic integration in the region, and provide a strong boost to international trade and investment, contributing to global economic recovery.

"China's growing volume of consumption and imports will create better conditions for other RCEP member economies to increase their exports, and help facilitate regional economic and trade cooperation," said Wang Yiming, vice-chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.

Tang Junkai, supply chain manager of Delicay (Shanghai) Fruit Trading Co Ltd, said rapid changes in world affairs imposed a profound impact on the supply chain of fresh fruit globally, and the resilience of the sector's supply chain has become more important.

China, the world's second-largest economy, has become New Zealand's largest trading partner. Despite the pandemic, China-New Zealand trade has grown, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Tim Knox, deputy director-general of China relations at the Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand, said the nation's advantages in growing high-quality and safe agricultural products have given him full confidence in promoting close cooperation with China.

"We are working closely with Chinese Customs and make corresponding adjustments to the requirements for pandemic prevention and control, and we look forward to bringing more nutritious and sustainable agricultural products from New Zealand to China," Knox said.

Meanwhile, Ben McLeod, global marketing director of Mr Apple－New Zealand's leading global apple exporter－said the company has been continuously innovating in its planting technologies for decades.

The apple grower said it is committed to producing high-quality fruit and is looking forward to contributing to the long-term sustainable development of trade between New Zealand and China.