Xi Jinping meets the New Zealand Prime Minister

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China’s focus on self-reliance is in no way intended to adopt a closed-door policy, but rather to better connect domestic and international markets.

Xi made the remarks during his meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hepkins, who is on an official visit to China.

Xi said that China’s primary task at present is to push forward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. For China, achieving high-quality development is a top priority, the common prosperity of all Chinese is a basic requirement, and making greater contributions to world peace and development is an important goal.

China is such a large country with a large population that it can only rely on its own strength to realize the development of the country and the nation.

“Only through opening up can China be able to modernize. Development is the top priority of the CPC in managing the country and national rejuvenation. We will continue to vigorously promote high-level opening-up and better protect the rights and interests of foreign investors in accordance with law.”

On bilateral relations, Xi stressed that he attaches great importance to the relations between China and New Zealand. He recalled his visit to New Zealand in 2014, during which the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership.

He said the healthy and stable development of China-New Zealand relations over the past decade has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and contributed to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.

Mr. Xi noted that China has always regarded New Zealand as a friend and partner, and is ready to work with it to welcome another half-century of bilateral relations and promote the stable development of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi said that China-New Zealand relations have always set a good example in China’s relations with developed countries.

Xi said the two countries should continue to view each other as partners rather than adversaries, and as opportunities rather than threats, so as to consolidate the foundations for the development of bilateral relations.

The Chinese president called for full implementation of the updated bilateral free trade agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and provide a better business environment for companies willing to invest and operate in China and New Zealand.

The two countries should strengthen exchanges and cooperation between them in the fields of education, culture and tourism, as well as in the domestic and non-governmental levels, so that there will be more people like Rewi Alley, the pioneer in China-New Zealand relations, to promote bilateral relations. Friendship, Shi said.

He called on the two sides to jointly uphold true multilateralism and the multilateral trading system, and address global challenges such as climate change, adding that they can also contribute to the development of Pacific island countries.

Hipkins said New Zealand is ready to enhance personnel exchanges with China, expand bilateral cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, education, science and technology, and culture, as well as jointly implement the updated version of the bilateral free trade agreement.

New Zealand believes that differences should not define bilateral relations, and what is important is candid exchanges, mutual respect and harmony without unification, Hipkins said, adding that New Zealand is willing to maintain communication with China regarding development assistance to island countries. .