Chinese Premier Holds Talks with New Zealand PM

Chinese Premier Holds Welcome Ceremony for New Zealand PM

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Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji told visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark Thursday he believes that the relationship between China and New Zealand will continuously develop in the new century.

At a meeting with Clark, Zhu spoke positively of the steady development of bilateral ties in the past nearly three decades, especially the successful exchange of visits between heads of state of the two countries in recent years during which they agreed to build a long-term and stable bilateral overall cooperative relationship geared to the 21st century.

This has laid a firm foundation for the development of bilateral relations in the new century, the premier said.

Noting the rapid development in bilateral economic and trade cooperation last year, Zhu said that the two economies are high complementary and have huge potential for cooperation.

He welcomed business people from New Zealand to take an active part in the development of China's western areas with their advantages in technology, capital, resources and management.

Pointing to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) informal leadership meeting and the meeting of foreign ministers and trade ministers of APEC members scheduled for October in Shanghai, China, this year, Zhu extended welcome to Clark and New Zealand Foreign Minister Philip Bruce Goff and Minister for Trade Negotiations Jim Sutton to attend the meetings.

He also welcomed Speaker Jonathan Hunt to visit China at his convenience.

Zhu expressed appreciation of New Zealand's position on human rights which stands for dialog instead of confrontation, and their non-signing in an anti-China motion proposed by the United States at the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

China foiled such an anti-China motion made by the United States for a 10th time this year, which shows that conducting confrontations on human rights issues are unacceptable, Zhu said.

Reiterating China's consistent stand on the Taiwan issue, Zhu stressed that it is the most sensitive issue in the China-New Zealand relations and the proper treatment of this issue is key to ensuring the development of the relations.

He said China appreciates the New Zealand government's statement to adhere to the one-China policy and hopes the New Zealand side could be fully aware of the significance and sensitivity of the Taiwan issue and abide by the one-China policy and concerned commitments, not allowing Taiwan politicians to visit New Zealand, nor engaging in official contacts with Taiwan in any form nor supporting Taiwan's attempts to join international organizations composed of sovereign states.

Zhu went on to say that China and New Zealand have had good cooperation in the process of China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the negotiations between the two countries on China's WTO entry have concluded, thus producing one of the earliest bilateral agreements China has signed with foreign countries. China appreciates it.

Zhu also briefed Clark and his party on China's policies on issues like Tibet and religions.

Talking about the recent mid-air collision incident in which a US military reconnaissance plane rammed and destroyed a Chinese fighter jet, Zhu noted that it is unreasonable for the US to resort to lame arguments, adding that China has exercised restraint on this issue.

Taking humanitarianism into consideration, China released the US crew members, however, China still sticks to a firm position against hegemonism, said Zhu.

China hopes that Sino-US relations can still move forward, and from a long-term point of view, China is not pessimistic about the prospects of Sino-US relations, Zhu emphasized.

Zhu said his talks with Clark are frank, friendly and constructive.

Clark said that the year 2002 will be the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between New Zealand and China, which will be an important moment for the two countries.

She reiterated her government's principled one-China position, saying that New Zealand will strictly control its relations with Taiwan within the economic and trade field.

She also restated New Zealand government's policy to dialog with China in the field of human rights. She added China's entry into the WTO is very important for the organization itself.

Clark promised to attend the APEC informal leadership meeting, scheduled for October in Shanghai.

During the talks, the two leaders also exchanged views on some international issues, and issues concerning trade, finance, education and tourism between the two countries.

Prior to the talks, Zhu presided over a welcoming ceremony for Clark. After the talks, Zhu also met with businessmen accompanying Clark to China.