China, New Zealand agree to negotiate on services trade negative list

China and New Zealand agreed to initiate negotiations on service trade negative lists on Thursday after a talk between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington.

The two sides also signed a number of cooperation documents in various fields, including service trade, business environment, export of agricultural and food products to China, science and technology, and patent review.

During his talks with Luxon, Li said China and New Zealand have always adhered to mutual respect and mutual accommodation, focused on cooperation, and promoted common development despite changes in the international situation over the past 10 years. These have facilitated great progress in bilateral relations, and cooperation between the two countries has also set many records, which has brought benefits to the two peoples and made positive contributions to regional peace, prosperity and stability, added Li.

He stressed that the two countries should continue to strengthen cooperation, strive to eliminate the interference of non-economic factors in economic and trade relations, and provide a stable business environment for enterprises.

Li said China is willing to expand trade with New Zealand, tap the potential for cooperation in the fields of digital economy, green economy, new energy vehicles, creative industries, etc., and jointly promote regional economic cooperation. He also welcomed companies from New Zealand to invest in China.

The premier also announced that China will include New Zealand in the list of unilateral visa-free countries. "We hope that New Zealand will provide more convenience for Chinese citizens to travel to New Zealand," said Li.

Luxon agreed that China-New Zealand relations have achieved satisfactory development achievements since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between New Zealand and China 10 years ago.

He noted that New Zealand firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to strengthen communication and dialogue with China and further deepen cooperation in agriculture, food, creative industries, environmental protection and other fields.

New Zealand will also strengthen law enforcement cooperation with China, strengthen coordination and cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Organization, and work together to address global issues such as climate change, said Luxon.

The two prime ministers both agreed that China and New Zealand will continue to view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, expand bilateral trade and investment, continuously deepen cultural exchanges, jointly work to safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and promote the sustained, healthy and stable development of China-New Zealand relations.

Li arrived in Wellington on Thursday for an official visit to New Zealand, the first leg of his three-nation tour from June 13 to 20, which will also take him to Australia and Malaysia.

(Cover: Chinese Premier Li Qiang and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon meets in Wellington, New Zealand, June 13, 2024. /CGTN)