Chris Hipkins met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, with the Chinese President declaring that “China always views New Zealand as a friend and a partner”.
It is the first visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister since Covid-19 and took place against a backdrop of increased geostrategic competition in the region since the pandemic.
“Your visit this time is very meaningful, I’m also aware, that the international community, especially countries in our region, have been following your visit very closely,” Xi said.
In his brief introductory remarks, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins highlighted both the fact that New Zealand once again had open borders for students and tourists. In the post-Covid global inflationary environment, both Xi and Hipkins are concerned about the economy, cost of living and delivering prosperity for their people – albeit in very different political systems.
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As a result, China’s human rights abuses were not discussed in any significant way.
“It wasn’t discussed in great depth, so I referenced New Zealand’s position on human rights,” Hipkins said.
Hipkins instead was focussed on the same message as the rest of the trip: that New Zealand is open for business.
“Our borders are now open in both directions, flights are resuming group tours are arriving, students are returning and business people are able to engage with each other in person.
“Again, we expect trade education and tourism connections will continue to increase as air connectivity between our two countries continues to improve.”
But in a press conference after the meeting, Hipkins refused to be drawn on whether he would use the same language to describe China – as a friend and a partner.
“I certainly describe it as a warm relationship and warm conversation,” Hipkins initially said.
After being pressed on the matter he eventually said that, “well, it depends on the context, but yes by and large.”
In his official remarks at the beginning, Hipkins also made a point of the fact that New Zealand and China are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.
“This is a very significant bilateral milestone,” Hipkins said.
“The bonds that connect us go even further back than that, though; our earliest links are those Chinese migrants who came to New Zealand in the 19th century, whose descendants continue to call New Zealand home.”
Hipkins also said that he and Xi discussed US-China relations in the region, but that he would not be drawn on Xi’s views, instead reiterating New Zealand’s position.
“I was able to restate New Zealand’s position that we welcome dialogue between China and the US. And with reference to recent dialogue opportunities, including the visit by [US Secretary of State] Secretary Blinken, here to Beijing just recently, certainly New Zealand welcomes that.”
China has mounted a charm offensive towards New Zealand on this trip, lauding New Zealand for the way it has conducted its foreign policy – a tactic that is interpreted by some of New Zealand’s traditional friends and Five Eyes partners as China trying to slowly wick New Zealand away from its traditional allies.
“I think New Zealand and China have a solid relationship. As I’ve seen, we work together, where it’s in our mutual interests to do that, where we need to disagree or we do disagree, then we convey that as well,” Hipkins said.
New Zealand China watchers and those who spend time in the country, view the relationship as multifaceted and one in which decisions are made on a case by case basis.
“I myself, I’m always attaching great importance to our relations with New Zealand,” Xi said.
”Our bilateral ties have continued to grow in a sound and steady manner. Amid the changing international landscape, our relationship has remained robust and strong. It has brought tangible benefits to the people of our two countries and contributed to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
“China always views New Zealand as a friend and a partner.”
Hipkins is in China for a week, carrying out a series of high level political as well as business meetings. On Wednesday he will meet with the new Chinese Premier and Xi Jinping ally, Li Qiang.