The Chinese government highly values China's friendly cooperative ties with New Zealand and is willing to make joint efforts to advance bilateral ties, said a senior Chinese official Saturday. 

During his meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Hua Jianmin, Chinese State Councilor and Secretary-general of the State Council, said China-New Zealand exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, science, technology, education, culture and tourism have expanded increasingly, and will have more space of cooperation to explore.

At the invitation of New Zealand government, Hua Jianmin is paying a four-day visit to New Zealand, after attending the inaugural ministerial meeting of the Asian-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate in Sydney, Australia, from Jan. 11 to 12.

He will conclude his New Zealand visit and return to China on Jan. 17.