Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message on Monday to Christopher Luxon on his inauguration as Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Li points out that China and New Zealand are each other's important cooperative partners. Over the past 50-plus years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-New Zealand relations have long spearheaded China's relations with developed countries. Pragmatic cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people in both countries, Li said.

The Chinese government values its relations with New Zealand and he looks forward to working with Luxon and the new government under his leadership to maintain high-level exchanges, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, and expand friendly interactions to further grow the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples, said the Chinese premier.

Luxon officially became New Zealand's new prime minister, as his cabinet was officially sworn in on Monday. He is New Zealand's 42nd prime minister.

(Cover: A file photo of Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon. /Xinhua)