New Zealand FM Meets with Senior Chinese OfficialNew Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Phil Goff met Thursday's afternoon with Jia Qinglin, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, extending a warm welcome to him on behalf of the New Zealand government.During the meeting, Goff said New Zealand-China relations are positive and friendly and their cooperation has been steadily strengthened. New Zealand values its relations with China, he said, adding cooperative relations between the two countries in education and tourism in particular have been growing very fast. His country, he said, wishes to further enhance its cooperation with China in these fields. Jia Thanked the New Zealand government for inviting him to visit the country. He said Sino-New Zealand ties have been growing smoothly in various fields since the two countries forged diplomatic relations in 1972. Through exchanges of mutual visits, he added, leaders of the two countries have reached a common understanding of establishing a comprehensive cooperative relationship between the two countries, thus laying a solid foundation for developing bilateral relations in a healthy and steady way. On the same day, Jia had meetings with Parekura Horomia, minister of Maori Affairs and associate minister of Tourism; and Bill English, deputy leader of the National Party, the main opposition party in New Zealand. Jia also attended a reception in honor of him given by the Wellington City Council. Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Chen Mingming was present on the above-mentioned occasions. Jia and his party arrived in Wellington Thursday's morning on a goodwill visit to New Zealand. |
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