China's foreign minister meets New Zealand counterpart, beginning trip that also includes Australia

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits New Zealand to strengthen trade ties, address climate change, and discuss bilateral issues.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said March 18 that his country is ready to work with New Zealand to deepen trade and economic ties and address climate change.

Mr. Wang met his New Zealand counterpart, Winston Peters, at the start of a tour that will also include Australia.

China is willing to hold talks on reducing barriers to investment in the service sector “at an early time” and build new drivers of economic growth with New Zealand in the digital economy and through technological innovation, Wang said, according to a statement from China's Foreign Ministry.

Mr. Peters, who is also deputy prime minister, met Wang in Wellington, New Zealand's capital. “There have been some significant developments since we last met, not least a global pandemic that impacted both our countries," he said in his opening comments in their formal meeting at New Zealand's parliament house. “Today is a valuable opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that are now before us,” he said.

Mr. Wang is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit the country since his previous visit in 2017. He called for creating better conditions for exchanges including education, tourism and youth programmes, citing the example of Rewi Alley, a 20th-century New Zealander who was a member of China's Communist Party.

New Zealand has had strong economic ties with China in recent years and was the first developed country to sign a bilateral free trade deal with Beijing in 2008. The two countries expanded that trade agreement in 2022.

Mr. Wang also had a brief meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on March 18 and also is to meet Trade Minister Todd McClay while in Wellington.