Wang's NZ visit comes at pivotal time in relations, analysts say

The official visit of Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Zealand comes at an important time in relations between countries, analysts say.

Wang's current trip marked the first high-level meeting between the two countries since New Zealand's conservative coalition government came to power late last year.

Stephen Jacobi, the executive director of the New Zealand International Business Forum, said Wang's visit "is an important one and comes at a significant moment".

"It reflects the current healthy state of bilateral relations and both countries' aspirations to grow the relationship even further, building on our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, despite differences on some issues," he told China Daily.

And the meetings at a time of global political unrest provide an opportunity to share perspectives on global and regional issues, including peace and security, directly and constructively," he said.

A range of bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues were on the agenda when Wang sat down with his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters on Monday.

Wang last visited New Zealand in 2017 and 2014. He and Peters know each other from the latter's time as foreign minister from 2017 to 2020. The pair had a phone call last December, after Peters was reappointed.

"New Zealand greatly appreciates that China is our largest export market and that flows of tourists and students have started to expand once again," said Jacobi.

"The scope will be explored for deepening our bilateral connections, as China continues its reform and opening up policies," he added.

The ministers on Monday likely discussed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and Digital Economy Partnership Agreement trade agreements.

"We hope this visit can lead to further high-level bilateral visits," he added.

Alistair Crozier, executive director of the New Zealand China Council said: "The New Zealand China Council welcomes Foreign Minister Wang's visit to New Zealand, as the first in-person high-level engagement between China and the new New Zealand government.

"Both ministers are highly experienced senior diplomats who have worked together before, and we expect a full and open exchange of views on key current issues in the bilateral relationship."

On March 14, Peters told the New Zealand Herald that he hoped the visit would be an opportunity to discuss how the two countries could work together.

He noted that it was 10 years since the New Zealand-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was signed in 2014.

"It is timely therefore to discuss how New Zealand and China can best work together over the next decade, while building a strong understanding of our respective perspectives," Peters said.

Wang's visit to New Zealand comes at a time when the coalition government is weighing up whether to join "Pillar 2" of the AUKUS (Australia-United Kingdom-United States) defense pact, through which Australia is hoping to develop a nuclear submarine capability.

China has previously been critical of New Zealand considering joining AUKUS Pillar 2.

New Zealand officials recently had briefings from Australian officials about the AUKUS agreement, and New Zealand's Defense Minister Judith Collins discussed it with visiting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins.

Following his talks in New Zealand, Wang was set to fly to Canberra to hold talks with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.