Highlights of Chinese vice president's visit in New Zealand

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping continued his visit in New Zealand on Thursday and Friday.

The following are highlights of Xi's activities during his visit.

AUCKLAND -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping spoke highly of the relations between China and New Zealand on Friday in Auckland, proposing more measures to advance the bilateral relationship.

In talks with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Xi said currently the relationship between the countries is at its best time.

The FTA has boosted the bilateral trade, with the trade volume increased by 3.6 percent in 2009 despite the worldwide economic and trade downturn.

The vice president put forward four-point proposals on further boosting bilateral relationship, including more political, economic and cultural exchange and more coordination on major international issues.

AUCKLAND -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping held talks with the Governor-General of New Zealand, Anand Satyanand, here on Thursday and both stressed the importance of further enhancing bilateral relations to a new height.

Xi, who arrived here earlier in the day for a three-day official visit, said the bilateral relationship between the two countries is at its best time in history, with frequent high-level exchanges and enhanced mutual political trust.

The exchanges and cooperation in the fields of education, science and technology, culture and tourism have also deepened, he said.

AUCKLAND -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for more cooperation between China and New Zealand in various fields so as to elevating the bilateral relations up to a higher level.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Seminar held in Auckland, Xi, who arrived here Thursday morning for a three-day official visit, told the local business leaders that both China and New Zealand are important countries in the Asia-Pacific region and the further strengthening of exchanges and cooperation in various fields and channels would be conducive not only to the well-being of the two peoples, but also to the economic increase in Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole.

WELLINGTON -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met here on Friday in Wellington with Lockwood Smith, speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand.

During the meeting, Xi said the communication between legislatures of the two countries is a vital part of the bilateral relationship at large, calling for more exchanges between law makers from both sides.

Source:Xinhua