Premier Wen Jiabao said in Wellington Thursday that China and
New Zealand should facilitate understanding and friendship between
their peoples through cultural and educational exchanges to ensure
a steady development of bilateral relationship.
Wen, who is here on an official visit, made the remarks at a
meeting with New Zealand Governor-General Silvia Cartwright.
Wen said the growth of China-New Zealand relations is not only
in the interests of the two countries but also conducive to the
peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Therefore, China will handle the bilateral relationship from a
strategic and long-term perspective and is willing to increase
dialogue and cooperation with New Zealand, he added.
Although economic and trade cooperation is indispensable
elements in bilateral ties, cultural and educational exchanges are
all the more important, the Chinese leader said.
If economic and trade cooperation represents the present day,
cultural and educational exchanges represent the future, he
said.
Cultural and educational intercourse, conducted in various
forms, could foster understanding and friendship between the two
peoples, the young peoples in particular, the premier said.
Congratulating Wen on his successful visit to New Zealand,
Cartwright echoed the Chinese premier's comments on how to improve
bilateral relations.
New Zealand and China share many common interests and should
learn and draw lessons from each other's experiences, she said,
adding that her country is ready to increase exchanges and
cooperation with China in such fields as agriculture and animal
husbandry, science and technology, culture and education.
She said New Zealand welcomes more Chinese students to study
here and will encourage more New Zealand students to study in China
to learn its splendid history and culture.
Wen, who is the first Chinese premier to pay an official visit
to the island country, on Thursday also met New Zealand opposition
National Party leader Don Brash.
Premier Wen appreciated the efforts made by the National Party
in fostering friendly cooperation with China, saying that it was
during the ruling of the National Party that New Zealand became the
first developed country to conclude negotiations with China over
her entry into the World Treaty Organization (WTO).
Wen said China is willing to make joint efforts with all parties
in New Zealand, including the Opposition, to further improve the
bilateral relationship.
Brash said his party adheres to the one-China policy, advocates
closer bilateral ties, and supports an earlier agreement on a free
trade agreement between the two countries.
No matter which party is in power, there will be no change in
New Zealand's policy to develop relations with China, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2006)
