Visiting Chinese Premier, Wen
Jiabao, and his New Zealand counterpart, Helen Clark, began
talks on Thursday morning on bilateral relations as well as
international and regional issues of common interest.?
After the talks the two leaders are expected to witness the
signing of a number of agreements and documents on bilateral
cooperation and then hold a joint press conference.
Wen, who arrived Wednesday on an official visit, will also call
on Governor-General Silvia Cartright and opposition leader Don
Brash Thursday.
New Zealand is the third leg of the Chinese Premier's
four-nation tour which has taken him to Australia and Fiji and will
also take in Cambodia.
In a written statement released upon his arrival on Wednesday
evening, Premier Wen said China-New Zealand relations had moved
forward steadily in recent years, marked by strengthened political
understanding, fruitful economic and trade cooperation, growing
exchange of visits and dialogue and coordination over regional and
global issues.
He said the strong, all round, cooperative relationship between
China and New Zealand served the interests of the two countries and
their citizens and contributed to the stability and prosperity of
the Asia-Pacific region.
(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2006)