Li to focus on trade while in Australia, New Zealand
highlight of bilateral talks, as “it could provide a strong impetus to cooperation in trade and the economy, as well as other areas”.
“We have confidence in China-Australia economic and trade cooperation, and we are willing to tap its potential for diverse and sustainable development in the future,” he said.
From Sunday to March 29, Li will visit New Zealand and meet with Prime Minister Bill English.
They discuss promoting cooperation and developing a comprehensive partnership.
China and New Zealand have set a good example of cooperation between countries with different social systems since they established diplomatic ties 45 years ago, Zheng said.
The two countries announced in November that they will start negotiations on an upgrade of their free trade agreement, initially signed in 2008. It is the first free trade agreement China signed with a Western developed country.
“We hope both sides will take the FTA upgrade talks as AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND an opportunity to bring more openness to trade and investment,” Zheng said. He said China hopes the nations can reach consensus on new top- ics, such as service trade and electronic commerce “for an upgrade of bilateral cooperation and a driving force to regional economic growth”.