Chinese FM calls on New Zealand to strengthen common interests

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on New Zealand here on Friday to strengthen ties aimed at forming a "community of common interests. "

Wang told his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully that the two countries have set several precedents among western countries, including the signing of the first Free Trade Agreement in 2008.

The Chinese foreign minister said the bilateral relations are in a state of unprecedented smoothness, reflecting high-level mutual political trust and win-win cooperation.

"China would like to seize this opportunity to push forward the bilateral relations, to form a community of common interests," Wang said.

McCully said New Zealand government is proud to have witnessed a rapidly growing relationship with bilateral trade exceeding preset goals as China has become New Zealand's largest source of international students and second largest source of overseas tourists.

There is no doubt a consensus concerning the importance of the relations between the two countries among New Zealanders, McCully added.

The two ministers agreed during the meeting that the two countries need to have a long-term planning toward a more strategic partnership focusing on food safety, agro-technology, information technology, bio-pharmaceutical technology other than expanding current cooperation in agro-sector.

The two countries now are geared up to reach 30 billion New Zealand-dollar bilateral trade benchmark by 2020.

The two ministers have expressed willingness to work closer on the scientific research in Antarctic and implement easier border control regulations to promote tourism.

The top Chinese diplomat later in the day met with two heavyweight opposition MPs, David Shearer, former leader of Labor Party and current spokesperson for the party's foreign affairs and energy, and Phil Goff, the signatory to the China-New Zealand FTA when he served as minister of trade in Labor government and former Labor Party leader when the party lost elections in 2008.

Wang lauded the efforts Labor Party has made in the bilateral ties and was assured that the current opposition party would stick to the same policy on China of the ruling National Party.

The Chinese foreign minister wrapped up his two-day visit after meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at a venue near the airport.

New Zealand is the first leg of Wang's visit to the region, followed by a trip to neighboring Australia.