New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta speaks during a session of the UN Human Rights Council, which voted to hold an urgent debate about Russia's deadly invasion of Ukraine at Kyiv's request, in Geneva, Switzerland, 28 February 2022;
Credit: Fabrice Coffrini / Pool via Reuters
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - China's Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong said on Friday 3 June 2022 that he and New Zealand's foreign minister had discussed how the two countries could steer bilateral relations to benefit both sides.
Wang Xiaolong, who started as the Chinese ambassador in New Zealand in January 2022, met with Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Thursday 2 June 2022. The meeting had been arranged prior to the release on Wednesday 1 June 2022 of a United States-New Zealand statement that China described as gravely interfering in its internal affairs.
Wang Xiaolong said in a series of tweets that he had reiterated China's position on the US-New Zealand joint statement and that it was imperative to keep dialogue going.
New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement late Thursday that the minister and ambassador also exchanged views on regional matters, particularly the South Pacific, and Mahuta had expressed concern at the challenges faced by the region.
"The Minister took the opportunity to restate Aotearoa New Zealand’s concerns regarding the China-Solomon Islands Security Cooperation Agreement and highlighted that discussion of regional security matters was best undertaken through existing regional institutions", it added.
