🚀 Chinese Premier Li Qiang Calls for Deeper Ties with New Zealand in Auckland Speech 🌏
Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered an inspiring speech at a gala dinner in Auckland, New Zealand, on Friday, highlighting the shared values and future opportunities between the two countries. 🇨🇳🤝🇳🇿
\"Good evening! It's such a pleasure to join so many friends in the beautiful city of Auckland,\" Li began, expressing his heartfelt thanks to the people of New Zealand for their support in the development of China-New Zealand relations.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's visit to New Zealand and the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. Over the past decade, Li noted, their relationship has made \"historic progress,\" with cooperation advancing in unprecedented breadth and depth.
He emphasized the many \"firsts\" in the China-New Zealand partnership, such as New Zealand being the first Western developed country to sign a Belt and Road cooperation document and upgrade its free trade agreement with China. Trade between the two countries has doubled, and exchanges in culture, tourism, education, and at the sub-national level are flourishing.
Li highlighted four key commonalities that bond China and New Zealand:
- Respect for Nature: Both countries cherish their magnificent landscapes and diverse ecosystems. Li praised New Zealand as the \"land of the long white cloud\" and admired its commitment to ecological sustainability.
- Embrace of Cultural Diversity: As multi-ethnic nations, China and New Zealand value inclusiveness and open-mindedness. Li emphasized the importance of free trade and cooperation in driving prosperity.
- Pursuit of Innovation and Creativity: New Zealand's robust innovation culture, especially in agriculture and technology, aligns with China's focus on science, technology, and innovation as drivers of development.
- Commitment to World Peace: Both countries stand for peaceful relations and dialogue over confrontation, contributing to regional and global stability.
Li called for deepening cooperation across various fields, ensuring that such collaboration serves the people, and jointly contributing to peace and development in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
He also shared optimistic insights about China's economy, expressing confidence in its positive trajectory and the opportunities it presents for global growth.
Quoting a Chinese saying, Li concluded, \"In a boat race, those who row the hardest win.\" He invited New Zealand to \"row together\" and set sail toward a brighter future of friendship and cooperation.
🌟 Let's set sail together toward a brighter future! 🌊⛵
Reference(s):
Chinese premier addresses welcoming gala dinner in New Zealand
cgtn.com
