BEIJING, March 18 -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong met with New Zealand Premier John Key on Tuesday, pledging closer cultural exchanges.

The exchanges would serve as a bridge to enhance mutual trust and friendship between China and New Zealand, Liu said during the meeting, adding that cooperation between the two sides in recent years has yielded fruitful results.

She encouraged the two sides to continue promoting communication and cooperation in various sectors including education, science and technology, culture, tourism and sports.

The two countries should make joint efforts to translate the strength of cultural ties into an engine for the development of relations, she added.

Key said he hoped more Chinese tourists and students would visit New Zealand.

He said his country was ready to work with China to further advance cultural exchanges and cooperation.