China, New Zealand Hope to Strengthen Ties

Premier Zhu met with New Zealand's Governor-General

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Premier Zhu Rongji met with New Zealand's Governor-General Michael Hardie Boys in Beijing on Friday, December 1, and the two leaders expressed their wishes of strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Zhu expressed the belief that the visit, the first ever state visit to China by a Governor-General of New Zealand, will actively promote the sustainable development of a friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries.

He said the Chinese government has always paid great attention to the development of relations with New Zealand.

China and New Zealand are both Asia-Pacific countries and the friendly ties between the two nations have a long history, Zhu said, adding that both countries are taking measures to develop their economies and hope to maintain and promote peace and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

"Promoting bilateral cooperation not only conforms to the interests of the two peoples, but also contributes to peace and development in the world," Zhu said.

Zhu noted that leaders of the two countries last year agreed to establish a long-term, stable and healthy comprehensive cooperative relationship, laying down the goal and framework for the development of the bilateral relationship in the new century.

"This is of great significance to guiding the long-term development of the two countries," he added.

This year, Zhu said, the two countries have been actively implementing programs agreed on by leaders last year, and new life has been breathed into the comprehensive cooperative relationship between the two countries, with economic and trade cooperation forging ahead.

With joint efforts from the two governments, Zhu said, cooperation between China and New Zealand in education, tourism and other sectors made progress, adding that bilateral cooperation has vast potential and bright prospects.

"China wishes to further develop cooperation with New Zealand on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit," he said.

New Zealand highly values its friendly and cooperative relationship with China and considers it as one of the country's most important bilateral relationships, said the Governor-General.

The Governor-General said New Zealand will make greater efforts to expand exchanges between high-ranking officials of the two countries, and will strengthen cooperation in the fields of the economy, trade, education and tourism.

Chinese vice foreign minister Yang Jiechi, Chinese ambassador to New Zealand Chen Wenzhao, vice minister of education Lu Fuyuan, vice minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation Sun Zhenyu, director of China National Tourism Administration He Guangwei, as well as ranking officials of New Zealand, were present at the meeting.