Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for closed-door bilateral talks. Photos / Thomas Coughlan
Chinese President Xi Jinping wasted no time in addressing the strains in his country’s relationship with New Zealand, describing them as “ups and downs” when he met Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Beijing this morning, local time.
In his opening remarks to Luxon, Xi said that in the “50 yearssince the establishment of diplomatic ties, the China-New Zealand relationship has experienced many ups and downs, but we have always respected each other”.
Xi said China’s relationship with New Zealand has “remained for a long time at the forefront of China’s relationship with Western developed countries and delivered tangible benefits to our two peoples”.
Xi referenced his first meeting with Luxon at the Apec summit in Lima, Peru last year, saying he was “very impressed” with Luxon.
“We had a very good first discussion ... I remember that you said you wish to further advance bilateral relations.”
The pair shook hands and grinned for the cameras before getting down to business. The meeting was scheduled for 40 minutes but went for over an hour.
Xi delivered a short speech welcoming Luxon to China, saying it was a “great pleasure” to meet him again.
Christopher Luxon met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
“I appreciate your positive attitude, and I’m ready to work together with you for new progress for our comprehensive strategic partnership in a new decade, and this will certainly better serve our two peoples.”
Luxon responded by saying it was a “real pleasure to be able to return to China”.
“The world looks to China as a major global power to play a constructive role in addressing many of the challenges that are facing us all. And in this context, New Zealand’s dialogue with China is more important than ever,” Luxon said.
Xi Jinping spoke of China's 50 years of diplomatic ties with New Zealand.
“The stability in our region and our deep and abiding support for the rules-based system are fundamental to New Zealand’s interests,” the NZ leader said.
Addressing Xi personally, Luxon said, “Our bilateral relationship is long-standing and is of great importance to New Zealand. The relationship is flourishing”.
He said that this was partly thanks to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced by Xi 11 years ago.
Luxon said there were 280,000 Chinese New Zealanders who made a “great contribution” to the country.
He said the Government had “big ambitions to grow the New Zealand economy” and that trade with China would make a “big contribution” to that growth.
Before meeting Xi, Luxon met China’s No.3, Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress standing committee.
Speaking through a translator, Zhao said New Zealand and China’s relationship had seen “marked progress” since diplomatic relations were established 50 years ago.
He said the “comprehensive strategic partnership had maintained a good momentum and... delivered benefits to our two peoples”.
