At a meeting with Clark, Zhu spoke positively of the steady development of bilateral ties over the past nearly three decades, especially the successful exchange of visits between heads of state of the two countries in recent years during which they agreed to build a long-term and stable bilateral and cooperative relationship geared towards the 21st century.

This has laid firm foundations for the development of bilateral relations in the new century, the premier said.

Pointing to the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) informal leadership meeting and the meeting of foreign ministers and trade ministers of APEC members scheduled for October in Shanghai, this year, Zhu extended a warm welcome to Clark and New Zealand Foreign Minister Philip Bruce Goff and Minister for Trade Negotiations Jim Sutton.

Zhu expressed his appreciation of New Zealand's position on human rights which stands for dialogue instead of confrontation, and for not putting their signatures to an anti-China motion proposed by the United States at the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

China foiled an anti-China motion made by the United States for a tenth time this year, showing that conducting confrontations on human rights issues is unacceptable, Zhu said.

Reiterating China's consistent stand on the Taiwan issue, Zhu stressed that it is a very sensitive issue in China-New Zealand relations and the proper treatment of the issue is the key to ensuring the development of relations between the two countries.

He said China appreciates the New Zealand Government's statement that they will to adhere to the one-China policy and hopes the New Zealand side is aware of the significance and sensitivity of the Taiwan issue and abides by the one-China policy and other concerned commitments, by not allowing Taiwan politicians to visit New Zealand, engaging in official contact with Taiwan in any form or supporting Taiwan's attempts to join international organizations composed of sovereign states.

Zhu went on to say that China and New Zealand have had good relations during the processing of China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), and negotiations between the two countries on China's WTO entry have concluded, thus producing one of the earliest bilateral agreements China has signed with a foreign country. China appreciates it.

Zhu also briefed Clark and her party on China's policies on issues like Tibet and religion.

Talking about the recent mid-air collision incident in which a US military reconnaissance plane rammed and destroyed a Chinese fighter jet, Zhu noted that it is unreasonable for the US to resort to lame arguments, adding that China has exercised restraint on this issue.

China hopes that Sino-US relations can still move forward, and from a long-term point of view, China is not pessimistic about the prospects of Sino-US relations, Zhu emphasized.

Clark said that the year 2002 will be the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between New Zealand and China, which will be an important moment for the two countries.

She reiterated her government's principled one-China position, saying that New Zealand will strictly control its relations with Taiwan within economic and trade fields.

(Xinhua 04/20/2001)