China must explain unionist's ban says Goff

Foreign Minister Phil Goff will seek an explanation from China after a vocal opponent of a free-trade deal between New Zealand and China, senior unionist Ross Wilson, was barred entry and a seminar on labour standards was postponed.

On Monday, the Council of Trade Unions president had his visa cancelled to attend an OECD seminar that would have involved Government officials and top unionists from throughout the world.

Mr Wilson said China had postponed the meeting, citing "inappropriate and inconvenient" timing. But he understood the decision came from the highest political levels and he speculated that China did not want attention placed on poor labour standards.

Mr Wilson has expressed concern about the prospect of a free-trade agreement between New Zealand and China, talks for which started in Beijing on Monday.

The CTU is worried about China's poor labour standards and the future of New Zealand manufacturing.

Mr Wilson said the seminar was to have discussed guidelines for foreign companies in China.

He told the Herald from Japan it was the first time the OECD had held such a seminar in China and it was jointly organised with an arm of the Chinese Government.

"The understanding is that it actually came to the notice of a higher level in the Government. They saw the number of participants and the seniority of them, and things like the mine disaster last week made them sensitive. This is an incredibly significant backward step for China."

Mr Goff said the Government would seek an explanation why the seminar was postponed, but he pointed out that it was "within the competency" of the Chinese to take the actions they did.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald said the postponement was "tantamount to a gagging order" and showed that the Chinese Government would not allow open discussion on its "pitiful and exploitative labour standards".

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Wellington did not know why the seminar was postponed, but said if Mr Wilson wanted to go to China for another reason he was free to apply for another visa.

The seminar would have involved representatives of 25 Governments as well as union leaders from 20 countries and 15 foreign investors.

Mr Goff said NZ and China had agreed to respect International Labour Organisation provisions.