Chinese, New Zealand Foreign Ministers Meet in Wellington

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 21, 2002

Chinese, New Zealand Foreign Ministers Meet in Wellington

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held talks with his New Zealand counterpart Phil Goff Wednesday in Wellington. They exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues, and reached common understanding on a wide range of issues.

DISCUSSION

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Goff: Tang's visit important

Goff noted that Tang's visit to New Zealand is an important one because it comes at a time when the two countries have entered the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. The visit, he added, will have special significance to the growth of New Zealand-China ties.

Goff said New Zealand and China have forged firm friendship on the basis of mutual respect. He noted the two countries have conducted many discussions condusiveto strengthening cooperation and dealing with common challenges.

Tang : bilateral relations on steady growth

Tang said he is satisfied with the steady growth of the bilateral relations over the past 30 years.

He said since the establishment of the diplomatic ties, especially since the heads of state of the two countries exchanged visits in 1999 and 2000, the two countries have seen increasing exchange of visits, improving consultation machanism, growing economic and trade cooperation, and expanding common grounds on the issues about global and regional security.

All these, he added, have played an important role in promoting long-term and stable Sino-New Zealand relations in a comprehensive way.

Tang briefed his New Zealand counterpart on the Chinese government's positions on the Taiwan issue and expressed appreciation for New Zealand's upholding one China policy.

The Chinese foreign minister noted that the Chinese government values the development of Sino-New Zealand friendly relations of cooperation and is ready to explore potentials of their cooperation.

Goff reiterated his country will stick to the one China policy.

The New Zealand foreign minister spoke highly of the great achievement China has made in economic and social development.

He noted the sustained and fast growth of China's economy has important significance to world economy when the economies of Japan and the United States are in recession.

Backgrounder: China and New Zealand

Political Relationship

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand on 22 December 1972, the bilateral relations between China and New Zealand have witnessed a smooth development with frequent exchanges of visits and contacts between the leaders of the two nations.

Trade and Economic Relations

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, China-New Zealand economic and trade ties have seen a stable and healthy development. Since 1990, bilateral trade has experienced a fast development.

Exchanges in Culture, Education and Tourism

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand, bilateral cultural exchanges have seen a continuous development.

From 1972 to 1980, there were a few exchanges of visits by the two countries�� art ensembles and art exhibitions. Since China��s reform and opening-up, the cultural exchanges and cooperation field between New Zealand and China has been broadened.

Source from : Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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