Qin Gang Meets with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta

On March 24, 2023, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta in Beijing.

Qin Gang said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and New Zealand have always adhered to mutual respect, equal treatment, win-win cooperation and seeking common ground while shelving differences, and bilateral relations have realized long-term and steady development, setting an example for friendly relations between countries with different social systems, history and culture, and development stages. Last year, China and New Zealand jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and leaders of the two countries successfully held a meeting and reached important common understandings. The two sides should earnestly follow through on the common understandings, and strive for greater development of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era. China is ready to work with New Zealand to continue the sound momentum of high-level exchanges and increase political mutual trust. Efforts should be made to well implement the upgraded free trade agreement between China and New Zealand and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, unleash policy dividends, and tap into the potential for cooperation. China stands ready to comprehensively resume exchanges in various fields in the premise of ensuring due pandemic response measures, in a bid to enhance friendship between the two peoples and cultivate more friendly envoys like "Rewi Alley" in the new era.

Qin Gang said that the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping are the extension of the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind. The core essence of these initiatives is that people of all countries share weal and woe, and should stand in solidarity, help each other through cooperation, and jointly respond to challenges and share development and prosperity. China remains firmly committed to a peaceful development path, and promotes common development and win-win cooperation, which will inject more certainty and positive energy into a world fraught with changes and turbulence. China is ready to work with New Zealand to strengthen communication and coordination, and jointly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, so as to make the world more peaceful and secure.

Nanaia Mahuta said that the New Zealand-China comprehensive strategic partnership goes beyond the scope of economy and trade, and delivers tangible benefits to the two sides. New Zealand is firmly committed to the one-China policy, and expects to strengthen high-level interactions and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, expand cooperation in various fields, and leave more stories of success. New Zealand attaches great importance to China's influence as a major country, appreciates China's leadership in such fields as climate change and biodiversity conservation, and hopes to work together to safeguard peace and security in the Asia-Pacific and stay committed to containing the rise in global temperature and promoting sustainable development.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and concern.