New Zealand fm to visit China this week

FILE - New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta spoke at the post-Cabinet press conference in Wellington, New Zealand on Monday, March 7, 2022. Foreign Minister Mahuta will visit her counterpart Qin Gang in Beijing this week, in the first trip by a New Zealand minister to China in four years, officials said Monday. Mark Mitchell Pool Photo via AP, File ASSOCIATED PRESS WELLINGTON, New Zealand AP - New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will visit her counterpart Qin Gang in Beijing this week, the first visit by a New Zealand minister to China in four years, officials said Monday.

The visit comes at an awkward time, with Chinese President Xi Jinping planning to visit Moscow this week, giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a boost after the International Criminal Court announced it wants to put him on trial for alleged war crimes.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said New Zealand's position on Russia remained unchanged.

Hipkins said that they were emphatically opposed to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We are very opposed to any suggestions that other countries might support Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Hipkins said it was time to re-establish in-person ties with China after the easing of COVID 19 travel restrictions.

China is an important relationship to New Zealand and the travel between New Zealand and China has been restricted over the last few years, Hipkins said. It is important to reestablish those in-person opportunities to engage. Mahuta said New Zealand's relationship with China was complex and broad-ranging, and noted that the two countries had recently celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations.

Mahuta said that China is a part of New Zealand's economic recovery, but our relationship is far broader - spanning cultural, educational and sporting links.

China is New Zealand's largest trading partner and New Zealand exporters rely on China to buy milk products and other agricultural goods.

Mahuta planned to raise New Zealand's concerns about human rights and security, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine while she was in China. She planned to talk about issues the two countries cooperate on, including trade and environment.

She said she would meet with business leaders and hold a breakfast roundtable with female leaders during her two days in Beijing.

Mahuta plans to leave China on Tuesday.