Winston Peters, New Zealand's deputy PM and FM, to visit China

Winston Peters, New Zealand's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, will visit China from February 25 to 27, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

Peters will make the visit at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The visit of Peters will be the first important high-level interaction between China and New Zealand this year and his first visit to China since he took office in 2023, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun at a regular press briefing on Thursday afternoon.

The visit is important for advancing the implementation of the common understandings between the leaders of the two countries and consolidating the sound momentum of growth in bilateral relations, said Guo.

During the visit, the two foreign ministers will exchange in-depth views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest, he said.

China hopes to step up strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding and deepen exchanges and cooperation with New Zealand, as well as jointly address challenges and strive to build a China-New Zealand relationship that features mutual respect and accommodation, focuses on cooperation, and pursues common development, he added.