New Zealand Foreign Minister Holds Talks in China Amid Concerns Over Military Drills

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister met with senior officials in China on Wednesday, just days after his government and Australia announced that Chinese warships should have provided more warnings before conducting live-fire drills in the waters between their countries.

China’s official news agency, Xinhua, did not mention this issue in its initial report on the meeting between New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

The report stated that both Zheng and Peters emphasized their countries’ interest in developing bilateral relations, with Peters expressing New Zealand’s willingness to deepen economic and trade cooperation with Beijing.

China is the largest export destination for both New Zealand and Australia.