BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Beijing, with both sides pledging to uphold the multilateral trading system and strengthen bilateral ties.
President Xi hailed the long-standing friendship between China and New Zealand, noting that since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than 50 years ago, China-New Zealand relations have withstood changes in the international landscape.
Noting the two countries have consistently upheld mutual respect and advanced together, Xi emphasized that the bilateral relationship has always progressed ahead of China’s ties with other developed Western countries.
As the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership enters its second decade, Xi urged joint efforts to deepen ties to achieve greater development for the benefit of the two peoples in the next 10 years.
He stressed the importance of placing cooperation at the center of bilateral ties, tapping into complementary strengths, and expanding collaboration in trade, investment, scientific innovation, climate change, infrastructure and other areas.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, June 20, 2025.
The Chinese president also encouraged enhanced exchanges in education, culture, youth, civil society and local government to enrich the bilateral relationship.
Xi underlined that China and New Zealand have no historical grievances or fundamental conflicts of interest. He called for continued mutual respect and the proper handling of differences through dialogue and consensus-building.
Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of both victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, Xi reaffirmed China’s readiness to work with New Zealand to uphold the international system with the UN at its core, safeguard the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization, and advance the international order in a more just and equitable direction.
Luxon highlighted the strategic importance of New Zealand-China relations. He recalled President Xi’s 2014 visit to New Zealand and the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership.
The prime minister reaffirmed New Zealand’s strong commitment to the one-China policy and expressed a willingness to continue high-level exchanges, expand trade and investment, and deepen collaboration in agriculture, fisheries and the dairy industry. He also emphasized the need to boost people-to-people exchanges in tourism and education.
Acknowledging the uncertainties facing today’s world, Luxon stressed that the international community looks to China to play a constructive role in addressing global challenges.
He also expressed New Zealand’s willingness to enhance communication and coordination with China, uphold the multilateral trading system, and support China in hosting the 2026 APEC meeting.
