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New Zealand PM's China Visit to Further Boost Ties
New Zealand Ambassador to China John Mckinnon expressed the belief Monday that the forthcoming official visit to China by Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand will further promote the existing friendly relationship between the two countries.
New Zealand attaches great importance to its relationship with China, said Mckinnon at a press conference held in the New Zealand Embassy.
Clark will pay an official five-day visit to China starting today at the invitation of Premier Zhu Rongji.
During the visit, Clark will exchange views with Chinese leaders on bilateral ties and issues of common interest in the Asia-Pacific region, Mckinnon said.
He said that the focus of this visit will be put on the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries, especially on bilateral cooperation in such fields as tourism and education.
According to Mckinnon, China has now become New Zealand's fifth largest trade partner, sixth largest export market and fourth largest source of imports.
In the year of 2000, New Zealand's exports to China increased by 47 percent from the previous year. The most distinctive export products included forest products, dairy products, seafood and agricultural products.
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