Xi meets NZ Prime Minister, calls for greater emphasis on cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Beijing on Friday, calling on both sides to place greater emphasis on cooperation, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

For more than 50 years, since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-New Zealand relations have long been at the forefront of China's relations with Western developed countries, Xi said.

As the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership enters its second decade, both sides should work to grow the partnership and bring more benefits to the two peoples, he said.

Xi stressed that China and New Zealand should place greater emphasis on cooperation in bilateral relations, leverage their complementary strengths, deepen trade and investment cooperation, and explore potential for cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, climate change, and infrastructure.

He encouraged both sides to strengthen exchanges in education, culture, among youth and at non-governmental and sub-national levels.

"There are no historical grievances or fundamental conflicts of interests between China and New Zealand. Both countries should respect each other, seek common ground while reserving differences, and appropriately view and address differences and disagreements," Xi said.

As builders and defenders of the post-war international order, China and New Zealand should jointly uphold the international system with the UN at its core, and maintain the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, he said. He urged both sides to work together to safeguard international fairness and justice and make the international order more just and equitable.

New Zealand attaches great importance to its relations with China and will continue to adhere to the one-China policy, Luxon said, adding that his country is willing to uphold mutual respect and understanding with China and maintain high-level exchanges.

He expressed hopes for expanding trade and investment, deepening cooperation in agriculture, fishery and dairy industry, and enhancing exchanges in tourism and education.

Luxon said the world today is full of uncertainties, and the international community expects China to play a greater role. He said New Zealand is willing to actively communicate and coordinate with China to safeguard the multilateral trading system and jointly address global challenges.

Wang Xiaolong, Chinese ambassador to New Zealand, said that "The key outcome of the visit is the reaffirmation by both sides of the shared commitment to the bilateral relationship, a relationship defined and underpinned by mutually respectful and mutually beneficial cooperation. It is particularly pertinent given the fundamental interests of the two countries and the turbulent times we are going through at the moment."

The key highlight of the meeting was the shared emphasis by President Xi and Prime Minister Luxon on further expanding bilateral cooperation, Chen Hong, a professor and director of the New Zealand Studies Centre at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Friday. 

Beyond traditional areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, education, and tourism — which have long underpinned the relationship — both sides aim to tap new potential in emerging sectors including technological innovation, climate change response, and infrastructure development, said Chen.

"These new areas of cooperation are both complementary and mutually beneficial, offering fresh opportunities for growth while reflecting joint efforts to address global challenges," said Chen.

In a post on X, Luxon said that his meeting with President Xi was "constructive" and said that "in a complex world, open dialogue is more important than ever." 

In a report on Friday, Radio New Zealand described the meeting as "highly anticipated" and said that it took place "against a backdrop of global volatility." 

During the Friday meeting, the two leaders also underscored the importance of the multilateral system and their shared commitment to safeguarding global frameworks, including trade. Luxon highlighted growing global uncertainties and expressed expectation for China to play a greater role, which showed that New Zealand has viewed China as a reliable partner in promoting certainty amid global volatility, Chen said.

New momentum

The Friday meeting and Luxon's visit to China will inject new momentum into future bilateral cooperation, experts said, citing new visa arrangements, frequent high-level exchanges, and broader sectoral engagement during Luxon's visit to Shanghai and Beijing.

Rhys Griffiths, CEO of Deer Industry New Zealand, told the Global Times that the official visit shows the importance of the relationship between the two countries and he is optimistic that bilateral relations will continue to prosper.

"China is New Zealand's No. 1 trading partner. I think Chinese consumers in turn recognize the quality of the products our farmers produce back in New Zealand. We are very excited by the prospects of the China market," Griffiths said.

New Zealand is simplifying transit procedures and lowering costs for Chinese travelers to enhance tourism and trade. Starting in November, Chinese passport holders will no longer require a traditional Transit Visa to pass through New Zealand airports. Instead, they will be able to obtain a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), which is cheaper and faster to process, according to a Xinhua report on Thursday. 

Data from Chinese online travel platform Ctrip sent to the Global Times on Friday showed that as of Wednesday, inbound travel bookings to New Zealand in 2024 have increased by 95 percent year-on-year.

The outcomes of Luxon's visit reflect the steady strengthening of China-New Zealand relations. Frequent high-level and people-to-people exchanges have fostered mutual understanding and trust, driving deeper cooperation across various sectors. This positive cycle continues to enhance bilateral ties, Chen said.

Luxon's visit to China has also drawn attention from Western media. A Reuters report referred to New Zealand's "mature relationship" with China, mentioning that the country seeks to balance economic pragmatism while talking about Pacific security.

New Zealand has shown a strong adaptability to balance its relationships with China, the US and Australia. While being a Five Eyes member with deep alliances, New Zealand values its relationship with China and navigates geopolitical complexities with independence and flexibility, said Chen.

On Pacific Island issues, China and New Zealand also have opportunities to work together and contribute positively to regional development rather than adopting policies of exclusionism, said the expert.

Luxon's visit reflects a proactive and positive approach to China policy, which forms the foundation of New Zealand's broader strategy. "Amid growing global uncertainties and regional tensions, both China and New Zealand, as key Asia-Pacific nations, share a responsibility to help maintain stability and promote development," said Chen.