China's Xi Talks Up Trade And Investment In Meeting w/PM

(MNI) London - In a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and New Zealand PM Chris Hipkins in Beijing, Chinese state media reports Xi as saying that the "Two countries need to work closely together [to] bring about the steady and sustained growth of China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership." Xi says that this "Will promote free and convenient trade and investment between the two countries."

• Hipkins' recent commentsregarding the Chinese leadership will have won him favour in Beijing after he stated that he disagreed with US President Joe Biden's comments that the Chinese president was "a dictator". When asked by journalists whether he agreed with Biden's comments, Hipkins stated "No, and the form of government that China has is a matter for the Chinese people,"
• Given the heavy reliance of the New Zealand economy on Chinese demand for exports, Hipkins efforts to maintain cordial links with Beijing are likely to be sustained.
• His Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta noted that her conversation with her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in March was "very robust", adding that "The fact that we were able to achieve an invitation [...] reflects the nature of the relationship, how mature it is, the fact that we can have robust discussions and still be able to take a trade delegation over there."