New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed agreements on trade Thursday, while also discussing such issues as human rights in China and New Zealand's interest in joining efforts under the AUKUS defense partnership between the United States, Australia and Britain, Luxon said.
After talks with Li, whose visit to Wellington marked the first by a Chinese premier to New Zealand in seven years, Luxon said at a joint conference with the premier that they discussed the two countries' significant economic relationship and inked agreements, including those on exports of New Zealand food products.
After the press conference Luxon told reporters that he and Li discussed their differences over issues including human rights in China and "foreign interference," apparently referring to a 2021 Beijing-linked cyberattack on New Zealand's parliamentary systems, which was revealed earlier this year by the country's intelligence agency.
When asked by a reporter if the pair talked about New Zealand's interest in joining defense technology development with the United States, Australia and Britain under pillar two of the AUKUS defense pact, Luxon said China had "raised their concerns".
"Suffice to say that I raised the differences that New Zealand has, and likewise, the Chinese... have raised their differences with us too," Luxon said.
Li, speaking at the joint press conference, said through a translator "it is natural that we don't always see eye to eye with each other on everything," but added that such differences should not block cooperation but act as a driving force for the nations to grow together.
