Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has shaken hands with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping tonight in a milestone moment of his week-long trade mission to China.
Set to last half an hour, the meeting between the two leaders took place Tuesday evening at Bejing's Great Hall of the People near Tiananmen Square.
China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, and Hipkins' agenda includes Aotearoa's ongoing economic relationship with issues like trade, international students, and tourism.
In his meeting, the prime minister will likely also point to areas where the countries don't agree — for example, on human rights and the war in Ukraine.
Earlier today, Hipkins attended the World Economic Forum's annual meeting of the New Champions, also known as Summer Davos, in his first foray onto the world stage.
"I think we would like to see a world that continues to be open and outward-looking. There is a trend in some parts of the world to be more inward-looking," the PM said.
"I don't think an inward-looking focus for any country is going to serve their interests particularly well."
Chris Hipkins will be meeting China's president in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. (Source: 1News)
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Peeni Henare got to visit the Great Wall with a kapa haka group. The group's leader Tamati Waata said they felt awe and presence at the symbolic attraction. "We're lucky that we're here," he told 1News.
Hipkins' trip to the world's second most populous country comes as Aotearoa tiptoes a fine line on tensions between China and other western nations, like the US, UK, and Australia.
He’s the first leader in the Five Eyes intelligence group to visit since the Covid pandemic. (Source: 1News)
SHARE ME