ISTANBUL

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said on Wednesday that Beijing “attaches great importance” to strengthening the relations with New Zealand, Chinese state media Xinhua News reported.

China “stands ready to work with New Zealand,” Han Zhen said during a meeting with New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters in Beijing.

Han also said the leaders of both nations met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit held in November, offering strategic direction for the continued growth of China-New Zealand relations from a “new starting point.”

He emphasized that the “comprehensive strategic partnership” between the two countries entered its second decade.

China is ready to cooperate with New Zealand “to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, enhance mutual understanding, and promote the sustained, sound and steady development of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership,” he added.

Peters, for his part, said New Zealand is “willing to strengthen dialogue, enhance understanding, and deepen economic and trade cooperation as an active partner of China.”