On February 26, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters in Beijing.
Wang Yi said that China-New Zealand relations have maintained sound and steady development and have long been at the forefront of China's relations with Western countries, setting many "firsts". Last November, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Lima, charting the course for greater development of China-New Zealand relations from a new starting point. China is ready to work with New Zealand to follow through on the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, strengthen strategic communication, carry forward the spirit of "striving to be the first", and keep moving the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership forward on the right track.
Wang Yi noted that the two sides should adhere to mutual respect. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, are equal and have the right to choose a development path that suits them. Both sides should maintain the correct understanding of each other, rise above differences in history, culture, geography and systems, further develop friendly cooperation based on mutual respect, and become partners who trust each other and help each other succeed. Certain specific differences can be resolved properly through constructive dialogue between the two sides.
Wang Yi said that the two sides should focus on mutually beneficial cooperation. China's high-standard opening up and super-large market will continue to provide greater cooperation opportunities for New Zealand. Both sides should promote the upgrade of economic and trade cooperation, start negotiations on the negative list for trade in services as soon as possible, and work together to create new growth engines such as artificial intelligence, green economy and climate change response.
Wang Yi stated that the two sides should strengthen dialogue and exchanges. China has implemented a unilateral visa-free policy for New Zealand, which has promoted mutual understanding between the two peoples. He hopes that New Zealand will continue to provide a good environment for Chinese students and overseas Chinese citizens. The Asia-Pacific region is the shared home of China and New Zealand, and China respects New Zealand's traditional relations with Pacific Island countries. Both sides can enhance communication on issues of common interest and concern through consultations on South Pacific affairs.
Wang Yi pointed out that China is the founder, beneficiary and defender of the current international order, and will stick to practicing multilateralism and upholding international rules based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Faced with an international situation characterized by chaos and turmoil, it is even more important for China and New Zealand to strengthen multilateral coordination.
Winston Peters said that China is an important cooperative partner of New Zealand. Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between New Zealand and China, bilateral relations have made significant progress. New Zealand will, as always, pursue the one-China policy. New Zealand looks forward to further enhancing interactions between the two sides at all levels, strengthening exchanges and cooperation in fields such as the economy, trade, agriculture and defense, as well as in Antarctica, and deepening communication and coordination on regional and international affairs. New Zealand is willing to strengthen cooperation with China within multilateral institutions, and push for greater development of bilateral relations.
The two sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and keep in communication on China's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement.
The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of common interest and concern, such as the Ukraine issue and the situation in the Middle East.
