New Zealand's increasingly friendly relations with China has received a boost with the blessing of the 7.6 million NZ dollars (6.85 million US dollars) Chinese garden in the South Island city of Dunedin.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark attended the blessing, along with Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Zhang Yuanyuan Tuesday.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark (front L3) visits the Chinese garden in Dunedin, a south city of New Zealand, on June 10, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) 

Ambassador Zhang said New Zealand had proved to be a good friend of China.

"During my watch as ambassador, I have watched the two countries achieve a lot, not the least the signing of the free trade agreement. But we can still do more."

The Dunedin Chinese garden showed that if sister city ties were pursued with vigor, they would go a long way to educating people about cultural diversity and that working together with people built a harmonious world, he said.

Zhang, who later admitted to visiting many Chinese gardens around the world, rated the Dunedin garden as his top pick.

Clark said the FTA was a great achievement, but there was so much else happening in the relationship between China and New Zealand and it was important that culture continued to play a big role.