BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand hopes to further tap the Chinese market and is interested in becoming a "very long-term player in China," Prime Minister John Key said here on Monday.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (2nd R) and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (3rd R) attend a signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation agreements after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

"Since the signing of the free trade agreement between New Zealand and China in 2008, the commercial activities between our two countries are going from strength to strength," said Key, who brought a 40-person delegation with him on an official visit to China.

Key added that New Zealand has sold a great deal of food and base products to China, and is increasingly more active in the services sector.

According to New Zealand press reports, goods exports to China account for 15 percent of New Zealand's total goods exports. More than a fifth of all the country's dairy export dollars earned is from China. Growth in goods exports to China also accounted for more than 50 percent of the growth in New Zealand's total exports in 2007-2012.

Jiang Sheng, general manager of Sino-Europe project at Zhisland, a networking site for business leaders affiliated with China Entrepreneur Club, which hosted the prime minister, said the New Zealand side is not only eyeing the Chinese market, but is also interested in investment opportunities and bringing Chinese investment to New Zealand.

"There are enormous opportunities in each other's market for foreign direct investment. We have seen China growing rapidly as an investor in a great many sectors in New Zealand," said Key.

The prime minister was also excited about how China's online retail platforms are bringing products into households across China, saying: "When we look at platforms like Alibaba, it represents the ultimate opportunity to bring products and services from New Zealand directly to a platforms of consumers here in China."