Chinese president meets with visiting premiers of New Zealand, Mongolia

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the visiting prime ministers of New Zealand and Mongolia in Beijing on Tuesday, according to media reports.

Xi and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins during their meeting at Tiananmen Square's Great Hall of the People, discussed a wide range of regional and global issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war, US-China relations, Pacific and human rights.

In terms of bilateral relations, the two discussed ways to bolster cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, agriculture, tourism, and people-to-people contact.

"We discussed many aspects of our relationship, including our significant economic ties and also people-to-people, cultural connections, and areas of direct bilateral cooperation like trade, education, science and innovation, agriculture and tourism, " Hipkins was quoted as saying by the New Zealand Herald.

Xi, for his part, said he attaches “great importance” to China’s relationship with New Zealand, appreciating Hipkins’s similar gesture.

“Our relationship has remained robust and strong. It has brought tangible benefits to people in our two countries and contributed to regional peace, stability, and prosperity,” Xi said.

“After taking office as Prime Minister, you have stated multiple times that you value China-New Zealand relations and will continue to strengthen cooperation with China,” Xi said, speaking through a translator.

“We should work together to kickstart a new 50 years of our bilateral relations and promote steady and sustained progress in our comprehensive strategic partnership,” he added.

Describing New Zealand’s relationship with China as “friendship,” Hipkins said he had a “warm and constructive meeting” with the Chinese leader.

“I also raised our shared interest in a stable and prosperous region, reiterating the importance of working together to support the international rules-based order and the constructive role China can play in addressing shared global challenges such as climate change, and the war in Ukraine.”

Hipkins said they also discussed issues “where our cultures and political systems differ”.

Xi also met with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene in Beijing on Tuesday, state-run Xinhua News reported, without providing further details of the meeting.