China's market economy status should be recognized and the economic changes in China will encourage the trend, visiting New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Phil Goff said at a press conference held Monday in Beijing.

"It's not the case of have you done everything in global market economy, but have you done enough to merit that description, and our judgment is that China has moved far enough to made the trend to warrant the recognition of market economy status," Goff said.

New Zealand recognized China's market economy status on April 14, 2004, which is the first recognition from the developed countries of China's market economy. After New Zealand's recognition, countries such as South Africa, Russia, Brazil followed suit.

By the end of last year, a total of 37 countries made the recognition.

Goff also said that New Zealand has very much opened market economy and it is actually quite strong in China's favor to further develop the bilateral economic and trade relations.

China-New Zealand two-way trade witnessed a strong growth in recent years. According to China's latest official statistics, the bilateral trade volume valued at 2.491 billion US dollars, surging 36.4 percent last year over that of previous year.