WELLINGTON, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Over 90 New Zealand companies will be exhibiting at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), which runs on Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai, Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker said on Monday.

"China is one of New Zealand's most important relationships. I am keen to see what opportunities the Expo may offer our exporters seeking to expand their presence in China," said the minister, who heads to China Monday for the CIIE.

His visit comes on the heels of the successful conclusion of negotiations to upgrade New Zealand's free trade deal with China.

A China-hosted "mini-ministerial" on Nov. 5 will take stock of preparations for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan, in June 2020.

"The WTO is approaching some critical 'crunch' points in December 2019, including on the WTO's highly valued dispute settlement mechanism, which is under threat unless new members are appointed soon," Minister Parker said.

New Zealand is amongst those members looking to improve the functioning and operation of the WTO more broadly, and is actively supporting efforts to reform the WTO.

"We should not forget that the multilateral trading system and rules-based order has provided certainty to businesses and underpinned a remarkable period of global growth and job creation," Parker said.