PM Meets New Chinese Premier Li Keqiang
Rt Hon John Key
Prime Minister
11 April 2013 Media Statement
PM Meets New Chinese Premier Li Keqiang
Prime Minister John Key says a suite of signings following his bilateral meeting yesterday with new Chinese Premier Li Keqiang reflects the significant level of engagement between New Zealand and China.
Mr Key met with Premier Li Keqiang after an official welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Mr Key has met Premier Li before, when he visited New Zealand as Vice-Premier in 2009.
There were six arrangements signed after the bilateral meeting, which included arrangements that see:
• Both the Chinese
and New Zealand Governments introducing new three-year,
multiple-entry business visas, making it easier for business
people to move between the two countries.
• New Zealand
and China working more closely together to prevent the
illegal production of methamphetamine.
• The
introduction of a New Zealand-China Scientist Exchange
Programme.
• A strategic education partnership
confirmed between China and New Zealand, which builds on the
existing positive relationship between the two
countries.
• More fisheries cooperation, including
monitoring, control and surveillance to help counter illegal
fishing and to ensure the sustainable management of
fisheries resources.
• New Zealand government-owned
AsureQuality, which offers food safety and biosecurity
services, working with Mengniu, one of China’s largest
dairy manufacturing companies, and COFCO Corporation on food
safety.
The narcotics arrangement will boost Police cooperation between New Zealand and China over stemming the flow of precursor chemicals, which are used in the manufacture of illegal drugs such as methamphetamine.
Mr Key also briefed Premier Li on the joint NZ-US proposal to establish the world's largest marine protected area in Antarctica, the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA).
Mr Key also registered New Zealand’s deep concerns about the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
“We appreciate the significant steps China has taken on this issue in the past as the Chair of the Six Party talks, and more recently in supporting strengthened UNSC resolutions on North Korea’s missile and nuclear testing.
“My meeting with Premier Li provided an opportunity for constructive discussion on an issue, which is fundamentally important to the security and prosperity of the region,” says Mr Key.
“New Zealand and China
also discussed the importance of high-level contact between
our two countries and committed to maintaining at least
annual meetings between leaders.”
ENDS