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New Zealand Looks Upon China as "Good Friend:" PM
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said Monday in Wellington that her country has great interest in China and looks upon it as "a good friend."
She made the remarks in a meeting with General Zhang Wannian, vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission, and his party, who are in Wellington on an official and goodwill visit to New Zealand.
Clark highly appreciated ties between New Zealand and China and between the two armies. She specially spoke of New Zealand's positive attitude toward developing its relations with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), saying she hopes to see the two armies will increase their exchanges in education and training.
General Zhang, on his part, said that both China and New Zealand are important countries in the Asia-Pacific region and they have extensive common interests and responsibility in safeguarding security, stability and development in the region.
"China pays great attention to furthering its friendly ties of cooperation with New Zealand. Since China and New Zealand established diplomatic relations in 1972, China-New Zealand ties in various fields have been growing steadily due to the common efforts of the two sides. Especially after Chinese President Jiang Zemin's successful visit to New Zealand in 1999, the bilateral relations have enjoyed a good momentum of development," he said.
He believed that the two countries will develop a long-term, stable, healthy and comprehensive relationship in the new century.
General Zhang reiterated China's principled positions on issues of Taiwan and human rights.
The New Zealand prime minister said that since the establishment of New Zealand-China diplomatic relations, New Zealand has persisted in "One China" policy. Clark stressed that her government will, as the previous governments, not take any actions to encourage Taiwan's independence.
She said her country has already seen the great improvement in China's situation in human rights and it would like to continue its dialogue with China on the issue.
Speaking of the recent collision of a US Navy plane with a Chinese plane, the New Zealand prime minister expressed her concern over the missing Chinese pilot, Wang Wei, and her sympathy and solicitude for his family.
General Zhang noted the responsibility for the collision incident rests entirely on the US side and the United States must make an apology to the Chinese people and bear all responsibilities.
He told the prime minister that the Chinese side has been looking for the missing pilot at all costs according to President Jiang's instruction.
General Zhang demanded the United States stop its espionage flying along China's coastal areas in order to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
During the meeting, the New Zealand prime minister said she is to visit China next week and she is looking forward to meeting with President Jiang and Prime Minister Zhu Rongji in Beijing.
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