Premier pledges to further boost ties with New Zealand
Premier Li Qiang said on Friday that Beijing is willing to make efforts to upgrade the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership. Addressing a welcome banquet in Auckland held by various social communities on day two of his visit to New Zealand, Li also said the momentum of China's economic recovery has continued to strengthen and consolidate. The premier said the upgrading of China's economic structure will bring new opportunities for global development. China will always be open to enterprises from New Zealand and other countries, Li added. The premier earlier visited the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, a government agency tasked with promoting the country's farming, food and beverage industries, before meetings and a dinner with business people, academics and diplomats. Mark Piper, the chief executive of a top New Zealand government science institute, was among those meeting Li. "He was talking about more research collaborations and more people exchanges, which is what we're really interested in," he told AFP. "He was really big on collaboration, the value that New Zealand can bring to China and that China can bring to New Zealand." Li is due to travel to Australia on Saturday. He'll also visit Malaysia as part of his three-nation trip. (Xinhua & agencies)