Wang Yi: China to forge stronger ties with New Zealand

China is ready to forge a stronger bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership with New Zealand, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday during a meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also met with New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Monday.

Noting that New Zealand takes education, technological innovation, infrastructure, its business environment and export expansion as policy priorities, Wang told Luxon that China is willing to be a reliable strategic partner in these areas.

China is happy to see New Zealand's continued participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, and looks forward to working with New Zealand to explore new growth areas of cooperation such as science and technology, green development and innovation while strengthening cooperation in traditional fields, he said.

The Chinese economy enjoys both a solid foundation and a broad space for growth, which will continue to inject more impetus into the world economy and bring new opportunities to New Zealand, he added.

Both China and New Zealand advocate multilateralism, support the central role of the United Nations in international affairs, and are committed to resolving international disputes by peaceful means, Wang said.

China is ready to work with New Zealand to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, resist the Cold War mentality, unilateralism and protectionism, oppose reversing the course of history and safeguard the right direction of human progress, he said.

For his part, Luxon told Wang that the bilateral ties are important and urged closer high-level exchanges to promote mutual understanding.

The comprehensive strategic partnership between New Zealand and China has provided an important driving force for bilateral cooperation, Luxon said, adding that New Zealand will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

New Zealand is ready to deepen cooperation with China in areas including the economy and trade, people-to-people exchanges, education, tourism, agriculture, technology and climate action, said the prime minister.

(With input from Xinhua)