WELLINGTON - New Zealand's meat producers will be looking forward to a boost in exports to China after the two countries signed a formal arrangement on the supply of halal meat, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said Tuesday.

New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries and the China Certification and Accreditation Administration co-signed a new Halal Arrangement in Beijing Monday, under which China would recognize New Zealand's halal regulation and certification regime for halal goods exported to China, said Guy.

"This is a major step forward for New Zealand's halal meat producers, and it marks the first time China has recognised another county's halal regulatory and certification systems," said Guy, who is currently in China with Prime Minister John Key.

"The arrangement will provide a competitive advantage in China for our red meat producers," Guy said in a statement from his office.

China was New Zealand's number one market for halal certified meat, taking about 77,672 tons of halal certified meat in the year to September 2015, representing 33 percent of New Zealand's total halal certified exports.

Guy also co-signed a formal arrangement with China's Minister of Agriculture, Han Changfu, for New Zealand and China to develop an agricultural growth partnership (AGP).

"The AGP aims to foster stronger relationships between New Zealand and China's agricultural sectors through coordinated, strategic cooperation," said Guy.

The public-private partnership aimed to use New Zealand expertise in research and training to work on cooperation activities in areas such as agricultural policy exchange, dairy farmer training, livestock technology, animal health and disease control.