New Zealand joins China's Southern Link Belt and Road project

Thursday 19 June 2025 · 4 outlets · 4 reports · updated Thu 19 Jun 2025, 11:36am

In this story Christopher Luxon

The Government has signed on to the Southern Link project, allowing flights from Shanghai to South America to transit through Auckland. China Eastern Airlines plans to launch services to Buenos Aires by the end of the year. The deal includes a new electronic transit authority to replace expensive visas.

How they headlined it

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1. The Press via The PostThu 19 Jun 2025, 5:00am

   New Zealand signs on to China ‘Southern Link’, a Belt and Road Initiative (opens in new tab)

2. NewsroomThu 19 Jun 2025, 6:45am

   Confusion as NZ becomes midpoint on China route to South America (opens in new tab)

3. 1NewsThu 19 Jun 2025, 8:44am

   China Eastern to launch Auckland-Buenos Aires service (opens in new tab)

4. NZ HeraldThu 19 Jun 2025, 11:36am

   China Eastern will connect Auckland to Buenos Aires with new Southern Link service out of Shanghai (opens in new tab)