New Zealand businesses are being encouraged to see China's promise of an overhaul of our Free Trade Agreement as a big deal.

LISTEN ABOVE: Rachel Smalley talks to Cathy Quinn, an executive board member of the New Zealand China Council.

Premier Li Keqiang's visit here has seen a number of agreements signed - including one which will allow New Zealand chilled meat into China, and a promise of an upgrade to the FTA.

Executive board member of the New Zealand China Council Cathy Quinn told Rachel Smalley the FTA upgrade has been a long time coming.

"Australia got an upgrade a few years ago and that's put them at an advantage over New Zealand, we were the first country to have an FTA agreement, so it's fantastic that our FTA is being upgraded."