Medical and Hospital News
WATER WORLD
China Premier Li to visit New Zealand 'this week': NZ PM
China Premier Li to visit New Zealand 'this week': NZ PM
by AFP Staff Writers
Wellington (AFP) June 10, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand this week, Prime Minister Chris Luxon said Monday, a rare visit expected to focus on bolstering trade while setting aside security concerns.

Li will be the first Chinese premier to visit New Zealand since 2017, embarking on a trip that is widely tipped to also take him to Australia.

China is New Zealand's largest export destination, and Wellington has been one of Beijing's closest partners among Western democracies.

But relations have become strained in recent years as China has looked to expand its military and diplomatic reach across the Pacific.

"I look forward to warmly welcoming Premier Li in New Zealand," Luxon said in a statement.

"The premier's visit is a valuable opportunity for exchanges on areas of cooperation between New Zealand and China."

Luxon said Li -- China's number two official -- would arrive to a ceremonial welcome and official dinner "later this week", before a series of bilateral meetings.

Li follows a string of high-powered Chinese delegates who have made the trip to New Zealand in recent months.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi held high-level talks during a visit to the capital Wellington earlier this year.

New Zealand's recently elected centre-right government has pivoted towards closer ties with Australia and the United States.

It has also been mulling its involvement in the landmark AUKUS security pact between Washington, Canberra and London -- a move that would greatly irritate China.

New Zealand's foreign minister in May hit out at China's bid for an increased security presence in the Pacific Islands, warning against actions that could "destabilise" or undermine regional security.

"New Zealand and China engage where we have shared interests, and we speak frankly and constructively with each other where we have differences," Luxon said on Monday.

"Our relationship is significant, complex and resilient."

- Smoothing differences -

Jason Young, an expert on China-New Zealand relations, said Li's visit showed both sides were willing to set aside these disagreements.

"The high-level visit in itself is a win," said Young, from New Zealand's Victoria University.

"It's primarily designed for both sides to demonstrate that many challenges in the relationship are being managed."

With China's economy showing signs of slowing down, diplomats and trade officials were looking to "engage with as many markets as they can", Young added.

"New Zealand already has close to a third of our exports going to China. We're kind of at saturation point. Whereas for China, there's a lot more momentum to improve relations."

Li is expected to visit Australia after New Zealand, although Canberra has yet to confirm that leg of the trip.

"The potential visit of the Chinese premier will be confirmed in the usual way," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Monday.

China and Australia have been patching up their own relationship in the wake of a bitter and costly trade dispute.

Starting in 2020, a slew of Australia's most lucrative export commodities were effectively banned from China.

But as relations have improved under a new government in Canberra, China has dropped tariffs on Australian beef, barley and wine, halted an import ban on timber and resumed shipments of coal.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
Australia woos Solomon Islands after pro-China PM's exit
Sydney (AFP) June 6, 2024
Australia touted on Thursday a "much bigger" relationship with Solomon Islands, further ramping up efforts to woo a Pacific nation that has lurched closer to China in recent years. Foreign Minister Penny Wong arrived in Honiara for talks with new Solomon Islands premier Jeremiah Manele, who replaced pro-Beijing leader Manasseh Sogavare earlier this year. Australia was seeking to bolster ties with Solomon Islands "across the board", Wong said. "We are up for a much bigger, deeper partnersh ... read more

WATER WORLD
U.S. condemns Houthis' detention of U.N. workers in Yemen

Suspect arrested over stabbing of four Americans in China

In shadow of war, Lebanese find respite on southern beach

Body recovery 'called off' at Papua New Guinea landslide site

WATER WORLD
Europe's Largest Ground Segment Upgraded Without User Disruption

Magic Lane secures 3 million euro to enhance location intelligence capabilities

China Encourages BeiDou System Integration in Electric Bicycles

Estonia summons Russian envoy over GPS jamming

WATER WORLD
Just thinking about a location activates mental maps in the brain

Tiny species of Great Ape lived in Germany 11M years ago

JK Rowling says regrets not speaking out sooner on trans issues

Record low level of Hong Kong's young adults want children: survey

WATER WORLD
Shadowy exotic pet trade thrives in Pacific island nation

Rare elephant twins born in dramatic birth in Thailand

Colombia to deploy 12,000 to secure Cali biodiversity meet

Shadowy exotic pet trade thrives in Pacific island nation

WATER WORLD
Dengue, mosquito-borne diseases rising in Europe: EU agency

UN warns of disease risk after Papua New Guinea landslide

Cases of bacterial disease rise in Brazil's flooded south

China releases journalist jailed for Covid-19 coverage

WATER WORLD
Four Americans stabbed in northeastern China

Hong Kong arrests three for 'insulting' anthem at World Cup qualifier

Millions of Chinese students start exams in biggest 'gaokao' ever

China accuses US of interfering after Tiananmen comments

WATER WORLD
Jordan says foils foreign state-backed arms smuggling

Colombian rebels holding Amazon hostage in peace talks

Hong Kong customs makes largest-ever gold smuggling bust

Indian navy says intercepted hijacked vessel near Somalia

WATER WORLD
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.