Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping held talks with the Governor-General of New Zealand, Anand Satyanand, in Auckland Thursday and both stressed the importance of further enhancing bilateral relations to a new height.

Xi, who arrived in Auckland earlier in the day for a three-day official visit, said the bilateral relationship between the two countries is at its best time in history, with frequent high-level exchanges and enhanced mutual political trust.

The exchanges and cooperation in the fields of education, science and technology, culture and tourism have also deepened, he said.

Xi said with the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between China and New Zealand in October 2008, bilateral trade has increased rapidly. China has now become New Zealand's second largest trade partner and third largest export market.

The Chinese vice president also stressed that the Chinese government attaches great importance to China-New Zealand relations and regards Wellington as a good friend and partner in China's mutually-beneficial cooperation with the countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

"China is willing to join hands with New Zealand to continue the development of bilateral relations from the strategic height and long-term angle, which includes maintaining frequent exchanges at various levels, enhancing mutual political trust, expanding practical cooperation in the fields of trade, agriculture, forestry, environment protection, labor and low-carbon economy, etc." he said.

Satyanand, after giving Xi a Maori tribal welcoming ceremony in front of the Government House, told Xi at the meeting that over the past 10 years, the bilateral relationship has made great achievements and both sides have witnessed the frequent high-level exchange of visits and effective and mutually-beneficial cooperation.

He said Vice President Xi could take the visit as an opportunity to meet with people from various fields and discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation together. "This will certainly help push the bilateral relations to a new level," he added.

He also noted that both New Zealand and China are facing good opportunities in the development, and his country is willing to join hands with China to keep the strong momentum in the development of bilateral ties so as to bring benefits to the peoples of the two countries.

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