New Zealand's investment network to lure more Chinese investors (3)

Investments between New Zealand and China remained small even after the two countries marked their 40 years of diplomatic ties this year.

"New Zealand's future growth depends on access to capital, knowledge and skills, and China's size and its enormous growth potential means it will be the largest--and likely the fastest growing--market for New Zealand exports," English said.

China was New Zealand's 11th largest investor, with investments totaling 1.8 billion NZ dollars (1.48 billion U.S. dollars) in 2011, and foreign direct investments (FDIs) from China was about half that figure, he said.

By comparison, New Zealand had 52 billion New Zealand dollars of FDI from Australia and 11 billion NZ dollars from the United States.

Prime Minister John Key raised the same concerns a month later at an event marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, noting that China was also investing in New Zealand government bonds, contributing to record low borrowing rates in New Zealand.

Given the controversies surrounding its investments in the past year, many Chinese investors are now keeping a low profile, investment facilitator and Chinese Ice Angels volunteer Kenneth Leong told Xinhua.

He had three pieces of advice for Chinese investors in New Zealand: build trust first, understand New Zealand's "rules of engagement" in business, and rely on advisors with experience in the market.

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