Remarks at the Welcoming Gala Dinner in New Zealand

H.E. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China

Auckland, June 14, 2024

Your Honorable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Good evening! It’s such a pleasure to join so many friends in the beautiful city of Auckland. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to people from across the New Zealand society who have given care and support to the development of China-New Zealand relations over the years. I also wish to send my best regards to the warm and friendly people of New Zealand.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s visit to New Zealand and the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries. At such an important moment, l am honored to be invited by Prime Minister Luxon to visit this land of fascinating beauty and abundance. We are delighted to see that in the past decade, China-New Zealand relations have made historic progress, and cooperation in various fields has advanced with unprecedented breadth and depth. New Zealand was the first developed country in the West to sign a Belt and Road cooperation document and upgrade its free trade agreement with China. China, on its part, has remained New Zealand’s largest trading partner and biggest export market. Two-way trade has doubled from around NZ$20 billion to around NZ$40 billion. Our exchanges and cooperation in areas such as culture, tourism and education, and at the sub-national level are flourishing, and the number of sister provinces/states and sister cities has grown to 42 pairs. The fruitful results of our friendly cooperation have not only generated tangible benefits to our peoples, but also greatly contributed to prosperity and stability of the region and beyond.

If we delve deeper into history, more stories of friendship and more fruits of cooperation between China and New Zealand will come into view. In the past 52 years of diplomatic ties, China-New Zealand relations have long been a pacemaker in China’s engagement with the wider developed world, and set many records along the way. The history of friendly exchanges between our two countries, which can be traced back to the 1860s when the first group of Chinese people arrived in Otago, spans nearly 160 years. For over one and a half centuries, our exchanges have continued to deepen, our cooperation has become closer, and our friendship and mutual understanding have kept growing. What I want to stress here is that despite the distance between us and the difference in national conditions, China and New Zealand have forged a natural bond of affinity and empathy, based on our many commonalities and similarities.

These precious commonalities are a valuable asset for our two countries. They have played a large part in the steady progress and fruitful cooperation between China and New Zealand in the past 52 years. Both sides need to cherish and protect the asset, and tap more into it as we continue to grow China-New Zealand relations.

Changes unseen in a century are unfolding faster across the world, and world peace and development is confronted with many difficulties. But just as a New Zealand proverb goes, “Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” China is ready to join hands with New Zealand to stay true to our common values, carry forward our tradition of friendship and create an upgraded version of China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership, so as to generate strong momentum for stability and development in our two countries, the region and beyond.

The Chinese economy has enjoyed an ever-stronger momentum of recovery since the beginning of this year. In the first quarter, it got off to a good start with a 5.3 percent growth year on year, and maintained strong consumption, steady increase in investment, elevated levels of imports and exports and rising market confidence. In particular, the high-tech manufacturing industry and emerging industries are showing good momentum and fast strengthening China’s new sources of growth. Forecasts for the Chinese economy are being upgraded by international institutions including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. China will continue to be the largest engine of global growth. Looking over a longer horizon, the Chinese economy will sustain a positive trajectory over the long run as we advance Chinese modernization in all respects through high-quality development and continuously unlock tremendous demand from our huge market of 1.4 billion people. More development in China is a great opportunity for the world. We are ready to continue to share opportunities with other countries to achieve common development.

Auckland is known as the “City of Sails.” We Chinese say, “In a boat race, those who row the hardest win.” Going forward, let us row together, and set sail towards a brighter future of China-New Zealand friendship and cooperation!

Thank you!

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