Yang Jian: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Yang Jian: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Sitting date: 30 January 2013. Volume:687;Page:7669. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr JIAN YANG (National) 
: 
 I am delighted to speak in today’s debate on the Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament. I am proud to be able to stand here today along with some National colleagues to say that the National-led Government has been and will continue working hard for New Zealand. Unlike the Opposition we have a strong and realistic plan to encourage investment strengthen our economy and boost jobs for New Zealanders. We are getting on with the job of responsibly managing the Government’s finances which will reduce our debt. Plus our wide-ranging programme of reforms will create a more productive and competitive economy that will benefit all New Zealanders and help us to compete better on the world stage. 
As an immigrant and a proud New Zealander I believe New Zealand is the best place to live and to raise my two girls. National is building on the momentum achieved over the past 4 years in making New Zealand an even better place. The Prime Minister said yesterday that our trade and investment links with Asia are increasing. In particular our exports to China since 2008 have trebled. Our relationship with China—the second-largest economy in the world—is indeed continuing to grow to the benefit of New Zealanders. China is now our second-largest trading partner and may well be our largest before too long. I would like to emphasise that this is despite the obvious differences between New Zealand and China such as land size history culture language and population size. China values and holds in high regard New Zealand’s products and that is why it is continuing to invest in New Zealand. 
As you may be aware China’s largest dairy company the Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group plans to spend $214 million building an infant formula plant in South Canterbury. I had a meeting with a delegation from the group last week. I was told by the group that its investment would create about 80 new jobs in New Zealand. The group is not the very first Chinese dairy company to be interested in investing in New Zealand. A few years ago China’s Bright Dairy and Food injected about $82 million of new capital into the Synlait milk company after Synlait failed to raise the capital it needed in New Zealand. The investment has been working very well for both Bright Dairy and Food and Synlait. I paid a visit to Bright Dairy and Food in Shanghai last year along with the Minister of Trade the Hon Tim Groser. So we had a meeting with the leadership or management team of Bright Dairy and Food and the chief executive officer of Bright Dairy and Food made it very clear to us that it was fully committed to its business in New Zealand. 
These are the types of investment in New Zealand that the National-led Government is encouraging. Without more investment we cannot have the jobs and economic growth that our families and communities need and deserve. National wants to help businesses invest grow and create more jobs. Our Business Growth Agenda will reduce costs and uncertainties for business. It will provide Kiwis with the right skills through schemes such as New Zealand Apprenticeships which was announced last week. We will continue our multibillion-dollar infrastructure investment and unlock the potential of our natural resources but still maintain our environment. We will deliver more higher and quality trade agreements boost our capital markets and invest in innovation. 
New Zealand is a strong exporting nation and one of our focuses is Asia. We need to seize the huge opportunities that exist for New Zealand businesses in Asia. I mentioned earlier that our trade with China has trebled since we became the Government. China accounts for 18 percent of New Zealand’s dairy exports and its appetite for New Zealand’s meat in particular lamb is increasing. We have been working very hard to expand our exports to China in many other areas including the area of high technology. 
As a member of the Health Committee I would like to speak about National’s continued focus and success in health in delivering a better sooner and more convenient healthcare system for New Zealanders. Our Minister of Health has done a great job in turning round the health system after 9 years of a Labour Government. Elective surgery is now at record levels under National. As well we have shorter waiting-times for cancer treatment shorter stays in emergency departments increased immunisation for children better help for smokers to quit and more heart and diabetes checks. 
As the Prime Minister said the Opposition parties have opposed everything that National has been trying to do to encourage growth and jobs and provide stable leadership in tough times. They have opposed tax changes a free-trade agreement with the United States 90-day trials Resource Management Act changes and oil and gas exploration. They have also opposed major roading projects. Infrastructure is particularly important to the development of our economy. We have all witnessed the extraordinary growth of the Chinese economy in the past 30 years. That growth started with a huge investment both domestic and foreign in numerous roading projects. A popular saying in China in those years was “Yao zhi fu xian xiu lu.” meaning “To become economically developed build roads first.” 
The Opposition parties also oppose a national convention centre. Just a few days ago I had a conversation with a group of Chinese business people who had come to New Zealand from Australia. They had been in Melbourne for a conference organised by their business group. Over 600 people from China attended the conference and the conference was followed by another conference of over 1000 people also organised by a Chinese business group. We are seeing record numbers of Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand. They are eager to see our beautiful country. We would attract tens of thousands more visitors from China each year if there was a convention centre in Auckland. 
I am proud to be a part of this National-led Government which continues to work hard so that all New Zealanders can have a brighter future. Thank you.