TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins mentioned his nation’s curiosity in boosting financial ties with China throughout a gathering with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday.

Hipkins stated the main focus of his assembly with Xi was to “reaffirm our close economic relationship by supporting businesses (to) renew their connections with Chinese counterparts and helping grow new ones to support New Zealand’s economic recovery.”

Hipkins is on a five-day go to to China, his first since changing into prime minister in January, together with a enterprise delegation representing areas together with tourism and training.

Before beginning his go to, he described New Zealand’s relationship with China as a “critical part of our economic recovery.”

New Zealand formally entered a recession this month after its financial system contracted for 2 consecutive quarters. Officials say China is vital to a few of New Zealand’s engines for post-pandemic financial restoration: exports, tourism and training.

China is New Zealand’s largest export market, and Wellington over time has managed to take care of hotter ties to Beijing than a few of its Western allies. New Zealand has issued vital statements about China’s human rights and overseas coverage practices, however has usually skilled much less friction with China than different international locations within the area akin to Australia.

Xi praised “the great importance” of China-New Zealand ties, saying Hipkins’ go to was “very meaningful,” in line with the official Xinhua News Agency.

Earlier within the day, Hipkins attended a gathering of the World Economic Forum within the Chinese port metropolis of Tianjin alongside different overseas officers and joined a signing ceremony for 4 New Zealand exporters and their Chinese counterparts, in line with a press release from his workplace.

On Wednesday, he's to fulfill with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

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