On December 13, 2005, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council met with Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark in Kuala Lumpur.

Wen said that currently bilateral relations have maintained sound development momentum. Both sides have witnessed strengthened mutual political trust and gradually expanded economic and trade cooperation. The consensus reached between both sides is being implemented and the cooperation in the areas of agriculture & livestock husbandry, forestry, judicature, culture, education and tourism has been continuously deepened. Both sides have also maintained sound communication and coordination on major international and regional issues. To develop bilateral comprehensive cooperative relations conforms to the fundamental interest of both countries. China looks at and develops bilateral relations from a strategic perspective and would like to steadily advance sound development of bilateral comprehensive cooperative relations.

Wen noted that the negotiations on bilateral free trade are progressing smoothly and the establishment of bilateral free trade zone is conducive to deepening their comprehensive cooperative relations. Both sides should advance the free trade negotiations in a steady and pragmatic manner in the principle of "progressing positively and soundly, mutual understanding and accommodation, and mutual benefits ".

Clark indicated that New Zealand attaches great importance to relations with China and hopes that both sides will maintain exchange of high-level visits, hold discussions on broad topics including bilateral relations and push for their cooperation in the areas of politics, economy & trade, culture and judicature. The negotiations on bilateral free trade zone have made positive headway and are believed to be able to make achievements continuously.

Both sides also exchanged views on the East Asian Summit. Wen indicated that China supports East Asian cooperation to maintain transparency and openness, welcomes New Zealand to participate in the first East Asian Summit and would like to strengthen bilateral relations with the help of this platform. Clark said that New Zealand has maintained close ties with East Asia and would like to hold consultations with China at the summit.