China’s Premier Li Qiang embarked on a significant visit to New Zealand, underscoring the strong ties between the two nations. This visit marks a rare occasion of a Chinese premier visiting New Zealand, with the last visit by Li Keqiang occurring in 2017. Premier Li's itinerary also includes stops in Australia and Malaysia, highlighting the importance of these relationships to China.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is expected to emphasize the robust trade links between the two countries during Premier Li's visit. China stands as New Zealand's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to 36 billion New Zealand dollars. The signing of a bilateral free trade agreement in 2008 was a significant milestone, and the current visit commemorates the 10th anniversary of a pledge to strengthen ties made during President Xi Jinping's visit in 2014.
