A free trade agreement between China and New Zealand, hopefully to be concluded soon, will kick off a new era for comprehensive relations, said experts of both countries here on Monday.

Scholars and researchers from universities and political institutes from China and New Zealand held a one-day seminar here,exploring ways of expanding scope of exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

Zhao Qizheng, vice-chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee ofthe Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said both sides should target the potential and find new areas for cooperation.

"China's development plan for the next five years include upgrading the scientific energy consumption and efficient resources utilization, as well as solid environment protection. New Zealanders might well provide help in these fields," he said.

Zha Peixin, executive vice president of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, said the key indicators of the strength of relationship is the frequency with which people raise the series of "firsts" which New Zealand and China have achieved together.

New Zealand, in 1997, was the first country to agree to China's accession to the WTO by concluding the bilateral negotiations component of that process, and it was also the first developed country to end item China as a 'market economy', Zha said.

Now, "New Zealand is the first developed country to commence free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with China, and I hope negotiators will added soon another significant 'first' in our relationship, and the conclusion of the FTA deal will be a concrete boost for the comprehensive mutual relations," said Zha.

Brian Lynch, director of New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, said over the past 35 years since the normalization of diplomatic relations, China and New Zealand have adhered to mutual respect and benefit, and the bilateral cooperation in various fields has made remarkable progress.

"Fruitful dialogues on major international and regional issues have led to better mutual understanding," said Lynch.

Gong Xianfu, vice-chairman of China Institute for International Strategic Studies, said enhanced China-New Zealand friendship not only serves the fundamental interests of the two counties and two peoples, but also contributes significantly to the stability, prosperity and development of the region and the world.

Peter Cozens, Center for Strategic Studies, New Zealand, said the 35th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations this year can mark a new period of deepening cooperation, particularly in the fields of science and technology, environmental protection and sustainable development.

Monday's seminar, attended by the biggest group of Chinese experts, was hosted by New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, a major think tank focusing the Pacific nation's strategic policy.

The Chinese delegation, grouping experts from the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, Xinhua News Agency, Tsinghua University and Beijing University, met their counterparts in New Zealand after attending a two-day seminar in Sydney, Australia.