"From New Zealand to Australia to Malaysia, Li's weeklong trip connects the Asia-Pacific region, showcasing the strategic vision of China's diplomatic planning," Chen Hong, Director of the Australian Studies Center of East China Normal University, told Chinese newspaper Global Times.

Consolidated relations

Li arrived in New Zealand on June 13 and met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington.

Li and Luxon agreed that the development of China-New Zealand relationship has achieved significant results. Both sides will continue to view and manage the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective, expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation, deepen people-to-people exchange between the two countries, and work together to safeguard multilateralism and free trade to promote sustained, healthy and stable development of China-New Zealand relations.

After their meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents on trade in services, business environment, export of agricultural and food products to China, science and technology, patent examination and migratory bird protection.

China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, with two-way trade in goods and services worth $23.2 billion in the year that ended in March 2024, according to New Zealand's statistics. The two countries signed a bilateral free trade agreement in 2008—China's first with a developed country.

According to a joint statement of outcomes of the China-New Zealand leaders' meeting, New Zealand noted China's application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free trade agreement

between 11 Asia-Pacific countries, and reiterated that CPTPP remains open to accession by economies that can satisfy the three Auckland Principles (high standards, a demonstrated pattern of compliance and consensus) to govern accession.

New Zealand noted the ongoing Accessions Working Group discussions in China's Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) accession progress, the joint statement also stated. China filed a formal application to join the DEPA, a new type of trade partnership agreement, in November 2021 and a working group was set up in August 2022 for negotiations on China's accession to the pact.

Stressing that China is willing to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges with New Zealand, Li said during his talks with Luxon that China will include New Zealand in the list of unilateral visa-free countries and expressed the hope for New Zealand to facilitate easier travel for Chinese people visiting the country.

"The relationship between China and New Zealand has been thriving since the establishment of diplomatic ties in December 1972," Li Jianjun, Director of the Australian Studies Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University and Secretary General of the Chinese Association for Australian Studies, told Beijing Review.

"Both countries pursue independent foreign policies, support free trade and advocate for an open world economy. They both uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law. Together, they tackle global challenges such as climate change. These shared commitments form the foundation of their enhanced communication and cooperation on regional and global issues," he said.

Back on track

Li announced at Adelaide Zoo in Australia on June 16 that a new pair of giant pandas would be swapped for Wang Wang and Fu Ni, the beloved pandas who have resided there since 2009. He expressed gratitude for South Australia's care of the pandas and expressed his confidence the new pair would receive equal love and care from the people of Adelaide and Australia.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong thanked Li, highlighting the economic benefits, job opportunities and tourism boost the pandas bring, while also acknowledging the gesture of goodwill.

China and Australia's economies are highly complementary, fueling strong motivation and vast potential for cooperation, Ning Tuanhui, an assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told Beijing Review, adding that China's wish is for both countries to join hands to ensure win-win cooperation remains the foundation of the bilateral relations.

On June 17, Li and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese co-chaired the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting and jointly attended a China-Australia CEO Roundtable Meeting.

During the leaders' meeting, Li pointed out that the most important experience drawn from the past decade of development of China-Australia relations is that the two sides should "respect each other, seek common ground while shelving differences and engage in mutually-beneficial cooperation."

Multiple agreements on trade, education, climate change response and culture, among others, were signed following their meeting. They announced that the 10th Meeting of the Joint Science and Technology Commission, the eighth China-Australia High-Level Dialogue and the eighth China-Australia Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change would all be held in Australia later this year.

China will also include Australia in its unilateral visa waiver program, and the two sides agreed to provide each other with reciprocal access to multiple-entry visas of up to three to five years' duration for tourism, business and visiting family members.

Li also visited winemakers in the famed Barossa region near Adelaide on June 16. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced in March the decision to cancel anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs levied on Australian wine.

The proper settlement of some trade frictions between China and Australia recently proves that such disputes can be solved through pragmatic negotiation and good will, Chen said.

For 15 years in a row, China has been Australia's largest trading partner, export market and source of imports. Trade with China accounts for more than 30 percent of Australia's total foreign trade.

"The foundation of the China-Australia relationship is solid. There is no historical feud or territorial conflicts between the two countries. Instead, they boast geographical proximity and economic complementarity. Additionally, there is close engagement between their peoples," Ning said. "The focus should be on how to improve their relationship, rather than questioning whether they should work on it."

Closer bonds

In his statement upon arrival on Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia, on the evening of June 18, Li called on both nations to view the jubilee celebrations of diplomatic ties this year as a new starting point to forge a community with a shared future, a vision for their relationship endorsed by China and Malaysia last year.

Li had talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and met with Malaysia's King Ibrahim Iskandar, respectively, on June 19.

During talks with Anwar, Li emphasized that despite evolving international dynamics, both nations have consistently fostered sincere friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation, and mutual learning, steadily advancing their relationship.

The leaders agreed that "China and relevant ASEAN countries should independently and properly handle the South China Sea issue, manage disputes and differences, promote dialogue and cooperation, and stick to the general direction of bilateral settlement.

Li and Anwar witnessed the exchange of several cooperation documents covering the export of Malaysian agricultural commodities to China, the digital economy, green development, tourism, housing and urban development, higher education, science and technology.

On June 19, Li also attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) in Selangor's Gombak district, a flagship project of China-Malaysia cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The China-proposed initiative aims to boost connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. Malaysian authorities anticipate that construction of the 665-km railway will be completed by the end of 2026 and operation will begin in January 2027, forming a major transport link between the eastern and western coasts of the country.

China will make active efforts with Malaysia to explore ways to connect the ECRL with the China-Laos and China-Thailand railways to better advance the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, thereby enhancing regional connectivity and deepening the development of the ASEAN Community, Li said.

Launched in 2017, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is a trade and logistics passage that was jointly built by provincial-level regions in west China and ASEAN countries. It is also one of the key projects under the BRI.

(Print Edition Title: Ties Gaining Fresh Momentum)

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson

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