Visiting top legislator Wu Bangguo held talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark in Wellington Thursday and the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and other major issues of common interest. 

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, and Clark reached important consensus on the topics they discussed.

At the talks, Clark said her government pays high attention to Wu's current visit and believes that it would bring about important results.

Clark herself will pay a working visit to China later this month.

Clark said China's rapid economic development is not only a blessing for the Chinese people but has also brought important opportunities to other countries.

China and New Zealand are highly complementary in economic terms, and promoting exchanges and cooperation in trade and economy, education, science and technology, culture, tourism and other fields will benefit both countries and peoples, she said.

Wu said bilateral relations have been developing smoothly since the establishment of diplomatic ties 33 years ago, and recent years have witnessed all-round cooperation between the two countries.

China and New Zealand enjoy a stable political relationship and there have been frequent exchanges of visit and contacts at the top level, Wu said, adding that bilateral trade and economic cooperation is growing rapidly, mutual investment is expanding, and the two countries maintain good communication and cooperation in international and regional affairs.

Wu also praised the New Zealand government led by Prime Minister Clark for its efforts to promote the development of bilateral relations. He pointed out that New Zealand is the first Western country to sign a bilateral agreement with China on the latter's membership of the World Trade Organization, recognize China's full market economy status and start negotiations with China on a bilateral free trade agreement.

Wu said China and New Zealand enjoy strong economic complementarity and a huge potential for cooperation, and share a broad range of common interests in maintaining peace and promoting development in the Asia-Pacific region.

China attaches great importance to the development of its relations with New Zealand and is ready to make concerted efforts to further promote their relationship, he said.

He called for efforts to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and contacts, further enhance political trust, deepen mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation and explore new areas and modalities of cooperation.

Exchanges and cooperation in science and technology, education and tourism should be further increased and the two countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional organization.

On the Taiwan question, Clark said her government adheres to the one-China policy and has never wavered in its stand in this regard.

Wu expressed his appreciation and thanks to the New Zealand government for its position on the Taiwan question.

Wu arrived here on Wednesday for a four-day official goodwill visit, the third leg of his four-nation Asia-Pacific tour, which will also take him to Malaysia. He has already visited Singapore and Australia.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2005)