China New Zealand Photo:VCG

China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Premier Li Qiang of the State Council will pay official visits to New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia from June 13 to 20, to exchange views with the three countries on bilateral relations and regional affairs, aiming to enhance mutual trust and strengthen broad cooperation.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced the closely-watched trips during a regular press conference, following New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's statement on Monday announcing the high-level visit, which will mark the first trip to the Pacific nation in seven years by a Chinese premier.

The upcoming visits were at the invitation of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, Lin said. 

During his visit to New Zealand, Premier Li Qiang will hold meetings with Governor-General Cindy Kiro and Prime Minister Luxon to exchange in-depth views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, in a bid to bolster communication and trust, and enhance cooperation, Lin said.

The spokesperson highlighted that China and New Zealand are "important partners for each other" and said the two countries have maintained healthy and stable cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations, bringing great benefits to both countries and peoples.

Lin noted that Premier Li Qiang will co-chair the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting with Prime Minister Albanese, and engage in extensive communications with representatives from various sections of the community in Australia during his visit to Canberra, to enhance their comprehensive strategic partnership.

China and Australia, both pivotal players in the Asia-Pacific region, possess highly complementary economies and broad collaboration prospects, Lin said, adding that strengthening and sustaining the positive trajectory of bilateral relations is a shared aspiration for both nations.
Premier Li Qiang will meet King Sultan Abdullah and Prime Minister Anwar, and together they will attend the 50th-anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, Lin said, adding that China hopes to strengthen the traditional friendship, enhance cooperation in various sectors, and advance the building of a closer community for the next 50 years.

The spokesperson said China and Malaysia, as longstanding friendly neighbors, have embraced a continuous positive relationship over the past half-century. The deepening of strategic mutual trust, successful outcomes in BRI cooperation, and the growing people-to-people exchanges highlight the robust nature of their bilateral ties, Lin said.

Global Times