New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will attend the East Asia Summit in Thailand from April 11-12 and will then visit China, it was announced on Tuesday.

He will join leaders from the 10 ASEAN countries, China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, India, and Australia at the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Pattaya, Thailand, to discuss the global economic crisis.

"The summit is also an opportunity to build on the ASEAN, Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement signed last month, and support work toward a region-wide free trade deal," Key said in a statement on Tuesday.

Between April 14 and 18, the New Zealand prime minister will visit China to meet with Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. Both meetings will take place in Beijing, before Key travels to Shanghai and then to Boao to attend the Boao Forum.

"China is New Zealand's third largest trading partner, and the visit is an opportunity to reinforce our shared economic interests," said Key.

"It is also a chance to build on the New Zealand-China FTA, particularly in the areas of tourism, aviation, dairy and agriculture, and education," he added.

Key will open the New Zealand Central Concept Center in Shanghai. The center is to foster business contacts and develop New Zealand business in China. He will also attend China's Boao Forum, and speak at Beijing University on Asia's role in recovering from the global economic crisis.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2009)