Visiting Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, and his New Zealand counterpart, Helen Clark, began talks on Thursday morning on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common interest. 

After the talks the two leaders are expected to witness the signing of a number of agreements and documents on bilateral cooperation and then hold a joint press conference.

Wen, who arrived Wednesday on an official visit, will also call on Governor-General Silvia Cartright and opposition leader Don Brash Thursday.

New Zealand is the third leg of the Chinese Premier's four-nation tour which has taken him to Australia and Fiji and will also take in Cambodia.

In a written statement released upon his arrival on Wednesday evening, Premier Wen said China-New Zealand relations had moved forward steadily in recent years, marked by strengthened political understanding, fruitful economic and trade cooperation, growing exchange of visits and dialogue and coordination over regional and global issues.

He said the strong, all round, cooperative relationship between China and New Zealand served the interests of the two countries and their citizens and contributed to the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2006)