PM Chris Hipkins meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Chris Hipkins met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, with the Chinese President declaring that “China always views New Zealand as a friend and a partner”

It is the first visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister since Covid-19 and takes place against a backdrop of increased geostrategic competition in the region since the pandemic.

“Your visit this time is very meaningful, I’m also aware, that the international community, especially countries in our region, have been following your visit very closely,” Xi said.

In his brief introductory remarks, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins highlighted both the fact that New Zealand once again had open borders for students and tourists.

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“Our borders are now open in both directions, flights are resuming group tours are arriving, students are returning and business people are able to engage with each other in person.

“Again, we expect trade education and tourism connections will continue to increase as air connectivity between our two countries continues to improve.”

He also made a point of the fact that New Zealand and China are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.

“This is a very significant bilateral milestone,” Hipkins said.

“The bonds that connect us go even further back than that, though; our earliest links are those Chinese migrants who came to New Zealand in the 19th century, whose descendants continue to call New Zealand home.”

The bilateral relationship was multifaceted, he said, which was why he’d brought a large delegation.

Hipkins is in China for a week, carrying out a series of high level political as well as business meetings.