China regards New Zealand as a key partner and has confidence in stable bilateral ties, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said on Friday. China and New Zealand have always respected and trusted each other, and bilateral ties have long been at the forefront of China’s relations with developed Western countries, Wang told New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry. “China-New Zealand cooperation has great potential,” Wang said. (https://neuters.de/world/asia-pacific/chinas-top-diplomat-confident-about-stable-ties-with-new-zealand-2023-03-24/) Mahuta arrived in China on Wednesday for a four-day trip, the first by a New Zealand minister since 2019, with her trip seen paving the way for a future visit by Chris Hipkins who became prime minister in January after Jacinda Ardern resigned. New Zealand and China’s interactions have remained largely cordial, with the two sides upgrading their free trade pact last year. China remains New Zealand’s largest trading partner.