China, NZ cooperate to benefit both countries

China and New Zealand have created many "firsts" in pragmatic cooperation and have brought tangible benefits to the two countries and their people, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Wednesday.

Lu made the remarks at a daily news conference after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday that China is one of New Zealand's most important and far-reaching international relationships.

New Zealand will look to cooperate with China to promote regional stability and development and is considering areas it wants to engage in with the Belt and Road Initiative, Ardern said at the China Business Summit 2018 in Auckland.

She added that she is very much looking forward to visiting China later this year.

China highly praises the positive remarks made by Ardern on deepening China-New Zealand relations, Lu said, adding that bilateral ties have achieved rapid development since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

New Zealand is the first developed country to recognize China's full market economy status and the first developed country to sign a free trade agreement with China.

China and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement in 2008, making it the first such deal China signed covering many areas like trade in goods and services as well as investment.

China is ready to continue working with New Zealand to enhance mutual political trust; expand dialogues, exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of areas; and push forward their comprehensive strategic partnership to achieve more positive results, Lu said.

Bilateral trade volume between China and New Zealand reached $14.48 billion last year. China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, export destination and source of imports.