Dr James Kierstead: Trade between China and the West has failed to make it more liberal

2015 was almost a decade ago. But it seems like a century.

That was the year that Xi Jinping enjoyed a sumptuous banquet at Buckingham Palace, part of a state visit organized by David Cameron.

It was also the year by which John Key had pledged to double trade between New Zealand and China – a goal that was, in the end, reached a year early.