Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking their second meeting but the first on Chinese soil.
The meeting came after it was announced yesterday that New Zealand had paused nearly $20 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands over its recent dealings with China.
In a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi said it was a “great pleasure” to meet Luxon again and that it was a time to “build on our past achievements and strive for new progress”.
“More than 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties to China, New Zealand’s relationship has experienced many ups and downs, but we have always respected each other and worked together.”
He said China’s relationship with New Zealand had remained for a long time at the “forefront” of the country’s relationships with Western developed countries and that it had delivered tangible benefits to both.
“Last November, we met for the first time in Lima, Peru, and we had a very good discussion. I was very impressed, and I remember that you said that you wish to further advance bilateral relations on the basis of our past partnership and friendship.
“I appreciate your positive attitude, and I’m ready to work together with you for new progress for our comprehensive strategic partnership in the new decade, and this will certainly better serve our two peoples.”
The world leaders discussed a range of tricky topics, including the war in the Middle East and a suspension of funding to the Cook Islands. (Source: 1News)
Luxon responded by thanking Xi for his warm welcome and said it was good to see him again.
“It’s a real pleasure to be able to return to China and to visit Beijing for the first time as Prime Minister of New Zealand, having visited many times here before as a business leader.”
He said the bilateral meeting was occurring at a time of “increasing global uncertainty and strain” and that the world looked to China as a global power to play a “constructive role” in addressing global challenges.
“New Zealand’s dialogue with China is more important than ever before, and we value it very highly. Stability in our region and our deep and inviting support for the rules based system are fundamental to New Zealand’s interest.”
Luxon was in China on a three-day trade mission and wrapped up the Shanghai leg with the announcement of $871 million in commercial agreements signed between New Zealand and Chinese businesses.
The agreements signed were a “clear sign of strength and momentum in our trade relationship”, he said.
“We also announced we would be making it easier for Chinese nationals to transit via New Zealand by removing the need to get a transit visa, instead being able to get a New Zealanders Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), significantly cutting costs and time for visitors.
“This resulted in one of the major announcements in Shanghai, that China Eastern Airlines was launching twice weekly flights to South America via Auckland.”
He was joined in Shanghai by New Zealand business leaders across the food and beverage, health and wellbeing, education and tourism sectors, along with Ministers Louise Upston and Mark Mitchell.
During the Shanghai leg of the trip, Luxon participated in a live stream event with Upston, which he said was watched by over 10 million people, to promote New Zealand travel offerings.
