Wellington -- The governments of China and New Zealand on Thursday signed a
number of agreements and documents aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in
areas such as legal assistance, cultural exchanges, and education and training.
China's Premier Wen
Jiabao (back L) watches with New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark
(back R) as China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (L) and Attorney General
Michael Cullen sign a mutual legal assistance treaty in Wellington April
6, 2006. [Reuters] |
These included a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, a
cultural agreement, a protocol on veterinary and sanitary requirements for
edible dear products to be exported from New Zealand to China, and a memorandum
of understanding on cooperation in education and training between the two
countries.
Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen
Clark, who held talks earlier Thursday, were present on the occasion.
The following decisions were also made public on Thursday:
1) Air New Zealand will open a direct air line between Auckland of New
Zealand and Shanghai of China.
2) New Zealand would participate in the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.
3) China and New Zealand will strengthen cooperation in fighting organized
cross-border crimes.
Premier Wen arrived here Wednesday night for an official visit to New
Zealand, the third leg of his four-nation tour. This is the first trip to the
island country by a Chinese premier in nearly 18 years.