Wang Yi (R), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, meets with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta (L) in Beijing, China, March 24, 2023. /Chinese Foreign Ministry

Carrying forward the spirit of "striving to be the first", China and New Zealand should enhance mutual trust and achieve win-win results, in a bid to inject new dimensions into bilateral relations in the new era and take practical cooperation to new levels, a senior diplomat said on Friday.

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, made the remarks when meeting with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, who is on a visit to China from March 22 to 25, in Beijing.

Wang said, despite differences in history, culture and social systems, China and New Zealand have always respected, appreciated and trusted each other, and the bilateral relations have long been at the forefront of China's relations with developed Western countries.

China appreciates New Zealand's objective and friendly view of China's development and its practical and positive policy towards China, Wang said, adding that China regards New Zealand as an important cooperative partner and has full confidence in the certainty and stability of China-New Zealand relations.

Wang said the modernization of China is a great event of far-reaching importance and will bring new opportunities to New Zealand and other countries in the world, adding that China-New Zealand cooperation has great potential.

The two sides should make good use of the protocol on upgrading the free trade agreement between China and New Zealand and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, promote the upgrade of economic and trade cooperation, jointly create new engines for growth, jointly keep industrial and supply chains stable and unfettered, and maintain a fair and open environment for trade and investment, said Wang.