2021年，虽受新冠肺炎疫情蔓延和彼此抗疫政策的制约的影响，中新两国官方和民间仍通过多种形式积极推动双方密切交流与合作。中新双边贸易快速走出疫情冲击的阴影，逆势上扬，甚至超过新冠肺炎疫情前的增长幅度。中新签署了自贸协定升级议定书，并在亚太经合组织等多边经贸场合保持积极沟通与合作。然而，新西兰政府在一些涉华议题上的消极表态，也显示了中新关系的分歧与挑战。中国国家主席习近平与新西兰总理杰辛达·阿德恩在2021年11月的通话中，再次确认了中新加强战略沟通、妥善处理分歧、推动中新全面战略伙伴关系健康稳定发展的必要性和重要性。
In 2021，despite of the limits and inconveniences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures to contain the spreading of the pandemic，both governmental and societal actors from China and New Zealand，actively pursued to the further development of the bilateral relationship. In contrast to the global declining trend of international trade，the sum of annual trade between China and New Zealand in 2021 even beat the years before the pandemic. Two sides signed the protocol to upgrade their FTA，and they also closely communicated and cooperated on many multilateral occasions like APEC. However，New Zealand also criticized China on some issues and caused negative effects on the bilateral relations，which revealed the differences and challenges the two sides will have to deal with prudently. Eventually，the call between President Xi and Prime minister Ardern in November 2021 highlighted the importance of strategic communication and careful management of the differences，and the two leaders reaffirmed the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and New Zealand.
