Hu meets New Zealand governor-general
( 2003-10-26 16:12) (Xinhua)
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed satisfaction on Saturday over
the smooth development of relations between China and New Zealand when meeting
with New Zealand Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright.
Chinese President Mr Hu Jinato
(centre) and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark (R) stand while
Chinese Minister of Quality, Supervision, Inspection and Quarrantine, H E
Mr. Li Changjiang signs new meat protocol agreements between the People's
Republic of China and New Zealand at AgResearch, Hamilton 26 October 2003.
[AP] | During the meeting, Hu said that the China-New Zealand relations have made
progress in recent years, with frequent top- level exchanges of visits and
enhanced cooperation in the fields of trade and economic relations, education,
tourism, and science and technology.
"Reviewing the development of bilateral ties since the two countries
established diplomatic relations 31 years ago, we found that the important
foundation and guidelines for our relations are mutual respect, equality and
mutual benefit, and seeking common ground while reserving differences so as to
achieve common development," Hu said.
China's new leadership has attached great importance to the China-New Zealand
relations and hopes to further promote the bilateral ties, he said.
The Chinese president believed that through his visit both sides would deepen
mutual understanding and expand common ground with a view to elevating their
friendly cooperation of mutual benefit to a higher level.
Cartwright said the Chinese culture brought to the country by Chinese
immigrants since the early 19th century has become an important part of the
social culture and daily life of New Zealand.
Over the past 31 years since the two countries forged diplomatic ties, the
fields of their cooperation have been expanding, said the governor-general,
adding that New Zealand is willing to jointly work with China to further develop
the bilateral relations as well as the friendship between the two peoples.
President Hu arrived in Wellington Saturday afternoon for a three-day state
visit after touring Australia and Thailand, where he attended the informal
Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation.
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