On the afternoon of June 27, 2023, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Prime Minister of New Zealand Chris Hipkins who is on an official visit to China.

Xi Jinping expressed great appreciation of the fact that Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has said on many occasions after his taking office that he attaches great importance to New Zealand-China relations and will continue to strengthen cooperation with China. Xi Jinping said that he has always set great store by the China-New Zealand relations. In 2014 during his visit to New Zealand, the two sides announced the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership, and the past nearly 10 years has seen sustained, sound and steady growth of China-New Zealand relations which has delivered tangible benefits to the two peoples and contributed to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. Xi noted that China has always regarded New Zealand as a friend and partner, and is ready to work with New Zealand to open up a new period of bilateral relations in the next 50 years, and promote sound and steady development of China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi Jinping stressed that the central task of China today is to advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, with high-quality development as the primary task, common prosperity for the entire Chinese people as the essential requirement, and making greater contributions to world peace and development as an important goal. This is a path that no one has ever attempted before. But the Chinese people will continue to forge ahead to explore the way forward. Being such a big country with such a huge population, China can only rely on its own efforts to drive the development of the country and the nation. China's emphasis on self-reliance is by no means to adopt a closed-door policy, but to better connect domestic and international markets. Only an open China can become a modern China. Development is the top priority of the Communist Party of China in governing and rejuvenating the country. China will continue to vigorously promote high-standard opening up and better protect the rights and interests of foreign investors in accordance with the law.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China-New Zealand relations have long been a "pacesetter" in China's relations with developed countries. The two sides should continue to carry forward the spirit of "striving for excellence" to constantly strengthen and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Both sides should continue to see each other as partners rather than opponents, and as opportunities rather than threats, and consolidate the foundation for the development of China-New Zealand relations. Both sides should respect each other, treat each other as equals, be open and inclusive, and seek harmony without uniformity. Both sides should ensure the sound implementation of the upgraded China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and provide a better business environment for each other's companies to invest and operate in the other side. Both countries should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, tourism and other fields, and at sub-national and non-governmental levels, encourage more people to become the "Rewi Alley" in the new era, and make the tree of China-New Zealand friendship more vibrant. The two sides should jointly champion true multilateralism and the free trade system, and work together to address climate change and other global challenges. The two sides should also maintain communication and work together to help Pacific island countries develop themselves.

Chris Hipkins said that the joint celebration of the 50th anniversary of New Zealand-China diplomatic relations last year was an important milestone in bilateral relationship, noting that the friendly exchanges between the people of New Zealand and China have a long history and the development of New Zealand-China relations enjoys a profound and solid foundation. He said that New Zealand values its relations with China, and by leading a large business delegation to China, he has hoped to explore more opportunities for cooperation and take bilateral relations to a new level. New Zealand is ready to strengthen personnel exchanges with China, further expand and deepen cooperation between the two countries in the fields of trade and economy, education, science and technology, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and work jointly with China to implement the upgrade to the New Zealand-China FTA. New Zealand believes that bilateral relations should not be defined by differences, and it is important that the two sides have candid communication, mutual respect, and harmony without uniformity. New Zealand is willing and ready to maintain communication with China on helping island countries develop.

Wang Yi attended the meeting.