At the invitation of Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council arrived in Wellington by special plane on the evening of April 5, kicking off his official visit to New Zealand. This is the first visit to New Zealand by the Chinese Premier over the past 18 years.

Prime Minister Clark waited at the accommodation ladder of the special plane to greet Premier Wen. A grand welcoming ceremony was held at the airport. Wen was accompanied by Clark to come in front of the Maori welcoming contingent first and the Maori male and female elders welcomed the Chinese guest's visit with the traditional Maori greeting. Later Clark held an official welcoming ceremony for Wen.

In a written speech delivered at the airport, Wen said that despite geographical distance keeping the two countries apart, friendly exchanges between both peoples go back to ancient times. In recent years, bilateral relations have been developing steadily with bilateral political relations continuously strengthened and both sides have conducted fuitful cooperation in the economic and trade area, steadily expanded personnel exchanges and increased dialogue and coordination on regional and international issues. To develop bilateral comprehensive cooperative relations not only conforms to fundamental interest of both countries and their people, but also is conducive to stability and prosperity of Asia-Pacific region.

"My current visit is aimed at advancing bilateral comprehensive cooperative relations. During the visit, I will exchange views with the leaders of New Zealand on advancing bilateral comprehensive cooperative relations and other issues of common interest. I'm looking forward to conducting broad exchanges with friends of New Zealand from all walks of life, " Wen said.

Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Zhang Yuanyuan, the staff of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand and representatives from overseas Chinese and Chinese students studying in New Zealand also welcomed Wen at the airport.

Wen arrived in Wellington after concluding his official visit to Fiji and attending the opening ceremony of the first "China-Pacific Islands Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum" Ministerial Conference. New Zealand is the third leg of Wen's current tour. Before visiting Fiji, he also paid an official visit to Australia. He will also make an official visit to Cambodia upon invitation.

Before Wen left Nadi, Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Cai Jinbiao saw him off at the airport.