Xi Jinping Meets New Zealand Prime Minister New Zealand | Relations | Xi Jinping Meets
On the afternoon of June 27, President Xi Jinping met with New Zealand Prime Minister Hipkins who was on an official visit to China at the Great Hall of the People.
I have always attached great importance to the relationship between China and New Zealand. In 2014, I visited New Zealand and both sides announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership. In the past decade, China Singapore relations have maintained healthy and stable development, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries, as well as promoting regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity. China has always regarded New Zealand as a friend and partner, and is willing to work together with New Zealand to usher in a new 50 years of bilateral relations and promote the stable and far-reaching comprehensive strategic partnership between China and New Zealand.
This is an unprecedented path, but we will continue to explore and move forward courageously. China is so large and has such a large population that it can only place the development of the country and the nation on the basis of its own strength. We emphasize self-reliance and self-improvement, not isolationism, but better connectivity between domestic and international markets. Only an open China can become a modern China. Development is the first priority of the CPC in governing and rejuvenating the country. We will continue to vigorously promote high-level opening-up to the outside world and better protect the rights and interests of foreign investment in accordance with the law.
Both sides should continue to carry forward the spirit of striving for excellence and continuously consolidate and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Singapore. We should continue to view each other as partners rather than opponents, as opportunities rather than threats, and consolidate the foundation for the development of China Singapore relations. We should respect each other, treat each other equally, be open and inclusive, and strive for diversity. We should implement the upgraded version of the China Singapore Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and provide a better business environment for each other's enterprises to invest and operate in their own countries. We need to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in fields such as education, culture, tourism, local areas, and civil society, cultivate more "Louis Eli" in the new era, and make the tree of friendship between China and Singapore more flourishing. We must jointly advocate for true multilateralism and a free trade system, and work together to address global challenges such as climate change. Both sides can maintain communication and work together to help Pacific island countries develop.
Hopkins stated that last year, Singapore and China jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which is an important milestone in the bilateral relationship. The friendly exchanges between the people of New Zealand and China have a long history, and the development of New China relations has a solid foundation. The New Zealand attaches great importance to developing relations with China. I am leading a large economic and trade delegation to visit China this time, hoping to explore more opportunities for cooperation and promote the New China relationship to a new level. The new side is willing to strengthen personnel exchanges with China, continuously expand and deepen cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, education, science and technology, and culture, and jointly implement the upgraded version of the bilateral free trade agreement. The new side believes that differences should not define bilateral relations, but rather open communication, mutual respect, and harmony without differences. The new side is willing to maintain communication with China on the issue of helping island countries develop.
Wang Yi attended the meeting.