Earth Science News
WATER WORLD
China's FM Wang begins diplomatic blitz in New Zealand
China's FM Wang begins diplomatic blitz in New Zealand
by AFP Staff Writers
Wellington (AFP) Mar 18, 2024

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a rare visit to New Zealand on Monday, stressing the need to work with "friends" in the face of the "tumultuous international situation".

The trip marks the start of a diplomatic blitz through New Zealand and Australia, Wang's first visit to either country since 2017.

The whistlestop tour is expected to focus heavily on trade as Beijing looks to lessen the pain from slowing economic growth at home.

Speaking in the capital Wellington before a meeting with his New Zealand counterpart, Wang said the trip was also a chance to shore up diplomatic ties that have come under strain as Beijing adopts an increasingly aggressive stance on issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea.

"In the face of the current tumultuous international situation, we are willing to strengthen strategic communication with our friends in New Zealand on international and regional issues of common concern," Wang said.

"And we will work together to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world," he added before his closed-door meeting with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

New Zealand is part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance alongside the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

But Wellington has been criticised for taking a softer line on China -- putting its trading relationship ahead of its allies' security concerns.

China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, and Chinese consumers have long had an appetite for the country's meat, wine, milk and wood.

Wang said he believed that "China-New Zealand relations will continue to be at the forefront of China's relations with developed countries".

"The relationship between us has developed smoothly and well," he said.

Later this week, Wang will meet Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra.

China and Australia have recently resolved a series of simmering trade disputes that saw Beijing impose tariffs and trade barriers on key exports in 2020, retaliating after Canberra barred Huawei from 5G contracts and called for a probe into the origins of Covid-19.

But the two nations continue to spar over human rights and Beijing's growing clout in the Pacific region.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
New Tuvalu govt vows to stick with Taiwan, questions Australia pact
Funafuti, Tuvalu (AFP) Feb 28, 2024
Tuvalu's new government on Wednesday pledged to keep up its "special" relationship with Taiwan, ending speculation that the Pacific island nation was poised to switch diplomatic recognition to Beijing. In a statement of priorities released as his government was sworn in Wednesday, Prime Minister Feleti Teo reaffirmed the "long-term and lasting special relationship" with Taiwan. Tuvalu, with a population of 11,000, is one of just 12 states that still have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei r ... read more

WATER WORLD
Drones, snake robot enter wrecked Japan nuclear reactor

US Supreme Court hears 'bump stocks' gun case

US Supreme Court to hear 'bump stocks' gun case

Munich Re beats profit forecast despite Turkey quake

WATER WORLD
Kobe breakthrough offers blueprint for enhanced photon up-conversion materials

Unconventional Superconductor Found in Natural Mineral, Miassite, Enhances Future of Technology

In Chile, a lawyer and his dog 'plog' to raise recycling awareness

US finalizes ban on last form of asbestos in use

WATER WORLD
China's FM Wang begins diplomatic blitz in New Zealand

NOAA proposes huge Hawaii marine sanctuary with reefs, atolls, endangered aquatic life

Greece adopts contested coastal development law

Aerial surveys reveal ample populations of rays off Southeast Florida

WATER WORLD
Indigenous Colombians fret as sacred mountain glaciers melt

Indigenous Colombians fret as sacred mountain glaciers melt

Icy reception for plan to 'save' Venezuela's last glacier

Speed record for glacier fracture helps reveal the physics of ice sheet collapse

WATER WORLD
Vietnam's 'rice bowl' cracks in monster heatwave

Costa Rica coffee farmers innovate as rainfall plummets

EU parliament backs contested biodiversity bill

Australia sees China wine tariffs lifted within weeks

WATER WORLD
Death toll from Indonesia floods, landslides rises to 21

Strong quake hits remote Macquarie Island region, no tsunami threat

Can Volcanic Super Eruptions Lead to Major Cooling? Study Suggests No

More than 30 killed in heavy rain in Pakistan

WATER WORLD
Turkey, Iran, Morocco joust for greater role in Sahel

Guinea-Bissau to try senior figures over 'attempted coup'

French troops to stay in Chad: Macron envoy

Niger, Mali, Burkina creating joint anti-jihadist force

WATER WORLD
Becoming human: An ancient genome perspective

How cognition changes before dementia hits

Researchers say education might slow pace of aging

Finding Skywalker gibbons with love songs: study

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.