New Zealand "worked itself up into a bit of a lather" about the Prime Minister's visit to China, said Asia New Zealand Foundation's executive director, as the country's relationship with China is in the spotlight.
"I think it's more important domestically than the fact that she's actually going," Simon Draper said on Q+A last night.
"At the same time, symbolism counts... Out of this visit there will be a signal sent into the Chinese system about how they're feeling about New Zealand and that will be important for how bureaucrats treat us."
He said China would understand that having Jacinda Ardern in Beijing in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack was significant, as well as having the Prime Minister recognise the importance of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to connect Asia, Africa and Europe through overland corridors and shipping lanes.
Ms Ardern is also there to explain the process that led to the GCSB denying Huawei from being part of New Zealand's 5G network setup, a decision she did not have a part in, Mr Draper said.
"That's a hard sell in China, because that's not how China works," he explained. "It's making the Chinese understand our process means she doesn't have a lot of influence in that."
Mr Draper said New Zealand's relationship with China for the last 20 years "has basically been around, 'How much can we sell you?'".
"But it's matured now. China's changed. It's a big, significant power. It's going to have to manage these sorts of things - we're going to rub up on each other in ways we haven't in the last 20-30 years."
"We just have to be cool-heads, take our time, explain our position, take the relationship forward that way.
"China is really important, but we see at the Asia New Zealand Foundation lots of other opportunities in other parts of Asia."
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