China and New Zealand Forge Stronger Bonds: New Agreements and Visa-Free Travel Ahead! 🌟
In an exciting development for international relations, China and New Zealand have taken a significant step forward in strengthening their partnership! 🇨🇳🇳🇿
From June 13-15, 2024, His Excellency Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, visited New Zealand at the invitation of Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon. This visit marked the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established between the two nations back in 2014. 🥳
During the visit, Premier Li met with Governor-General The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro and held talks with Prime Minister Luxon. Both leaders shared perspectives on enhancing the China-New Zealand relationship and discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest. 🌐
Key Highlights of the Meeting:
- Commitment to Partnership: Both sides reaffirmed the importance of their longstanding relationship, emphasizing equality, fairness, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. They agreed to deepen cooperation while managing differences and building greater understanding. 🤝
- Regular Dialogues: They recommitted to holding regular discussions on various topics, including foreign affairs, trade, agriculture, consular issues, defense, the Pacific, and human rights. 🗣️
- Climate Change Cooperation: An upcoming Ministerial Climate Change Dialogue is set to take place this year, highlighting their dedication to environmental issues. 🌍
- People-to-People Exchanges: Exciting news for travelers and students! China announced a unilateral visa exemption policy for New Zealand, paving the way for more cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges. ✈️🎓
- Economic Collaboration: Both nations welcomed ongoing cooperation in areas like food safety, customs, agriculture, and trade facilitation. They also acknowledged the importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. 💼
- Multilateral Engagements: The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working together in international forums, including the UN, APEC, EAS, RCEP, and ASEAN-centered platforms. 🌐
- Joint Initiatives: Several agreements were highlighted to strengthen cooperation, such as:
- Trade Negotiations: Commencing trade in services negotiations under the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. 📃
- Agricultural Exports: Launching an export plan for fresh kiwiberry from New Zealand to China. 🥝
- Infant Formula Cooperation: Establishing a Memorandum of Arrangement on infant formula cooperation. 🍼
- Business Environment: Working together to optimize the business environment for mutual benefit. 🏢
- Patent Cooperation: Implementing a Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Programme. 💡
- Wildlife Conservation: Promoting the exchange of bird banding data for migratory shorebirds and seabirds. 🐦
- Research Collaboration: Confirming recipients for the Ninth Round of the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance. 🔬
- Future Visits: New Zealand welcomed China's invitation for New Zealand leaders to visit at a mutually convenient time, signaling ongoing high-level engagement. 🤗
This visit symbolizes a promising future for China-New Zealand relations, with both nations committed to collaboration and mutual growth. From visa-free travel to exciting new trade agreements, there's a lot to look forward to! 🚀
Reference(s):
China, New Zealand issue joint statement on ties, cooperation
cgtn.com
