Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong Pays Farewell Call on New Zealand Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins

On September 23, Ambassador Wang Xiaolong paid a farewell call on Chris Hipkins, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party of New Zealand. Damien O'Connor, Labour's Trade Spokesperson, and Vanushi Walters, Labour's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, were also in attendance.

Ambassador Wang expressed appreciation to the Labour Party and to Mr Hipkins personally for their consistent support of China-New Zealand relations. He noted that China stands ready to continue working with New Zealand to focus on cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, to properly manage differences through dialogue and consultation, and to enhance exchanges on international and regional affairs - so as to further unlock the potential for cooperation and contribute positively to the development of both countries, the region, and the world at large.

Chris Hipkins commended Ambassador Wang's contributions to bilateral ties, emphasising the Labour Party's long-standing commitment to developing New Zealand-China relations and its optimism about the future of the relationship. He appreciated mutual respect as the characteristic of the relationship and expressed the willingness to build on the strengths of the relationship.