China and New Zealand have a mutually important bilateral relationship, which has seen healthy and stable development thanks to the joint efforts of the two countries. Since the establishment of the diplomatic ties over 50 years ago, in particular since the upgrade of our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 10 years ago, the two countries have upheld the principle of mutual respect, mutual accomodation, focusing on cooperation and aiming to benefit the people, worked together to promote exchanges and cooperation across the board to make significant progress, bringing tangible benefits to the two countries, particularly the two peoples. The high-level engagements between the two countries have maintained positive momentum, even through COVID. Our practical cooperation, especially economic and trade cooperation, has flourished, and the people-to-people links have served as an essential pillar of the bilateral relationship. Besides, the two countries have maintained communication and collaboration on international and regional issues.
It is only natural that the two sides have different views on some issues, given our divergence in history, culture, stage of development and social system. Nevertheless, the two countries have neither historical grievances nor conflict in interest. What we have in common far outweigh our differences. Despite the profound changes in the international landscape and in our respective countries, we believe that the complementary nature of our interests and cooperation on that basis remain the mainstream of bilateral relations. For our part, China is firmly committed to continuously developing our relationship and would want to continue to regard New Zealand as a good friend and important partner. We are also committed to managing our differences through constructive dialogues instead of “megaphone diplomacy.”
The hard-won achievements of our bilateral relationship are attributable to the joint efforts from both sides and deserve to be valued and nurtured carefully by both sides. Likewise, it is up to both sides, rather than the Chinese side alone to keep the relationship on the tracks of healthy and stable development. We hope and trust the New Zealand side will work with us in the same direction and make concerted efforts to grow the relationship further so as to better benefit our two peoples.
The Taiwan Question and matters relating to Hongkong, Xinjiang and Xizang are purely China’s internal affairs and brook no external interference. We now live in a new era towards an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. Those who are stuck in the mindset of bygone times and attempt to point fingers at China’s internal affairs will only do so at their own peril and are doomed to failure.
No one cares about cross-Strait peace and stability more than China. We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the utmost effort. However, with the support from external forces, the Taiwanese authorities have violated the One-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, attempted to expand their so called “international space,” and sought “Taiwan Independence.” Such actions have seriously undermined efforts at peaceful reunification and posed the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We hope that all members of the international community, including New Zealand, can uphold the One-China principle, firmly oppose “Taiwan Independence”, and make positive contribution to cross-strait peace and stability, rather than the contrary.
Currently, China’s Xinjiang and Xizang enjoy social stability, economic growth, solidarity among all ethnic groups and harmony among various religious beliefs, and the people there live happy lives. The legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang and Xizang are fully protected. What China has achieved in advancing human rights is there for all unbiased people to see. Some people simply choose to turn a blind eye to realities, and have attacked and smeared China’s governance of Xinjiang and Xizang under the pretext of human rights, and even attempted to use fabricated lies to sabotage China’s development and infringe on its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We firmly reject and deplore this. We urge them to respect facts, abandon their prejudices and stop undermining China’s sovereignty and the rights and interests of the Chinese people under the pretext of human rights.
Hong Kong has long returned to its motherland. Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong. China will never waver in its commitment to fully and faithfully implementing One Country, Two Systems, safeguarding Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity, and safeguarding China’s sovereignty and security. Adopting National Security Law and completing the legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law has further improved at the state level a legal system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard Hong Kong SAR’s national security. In fact, the world has witnessed how Hong Kong has since restored law and order and reverted to the path of prosperity. Relevant measures and legislation adopted by the Chinese government not only have been fully endorsed by Hong Kong residents, but also serve the interests of all parties.
There was tranquility in the South China Sea until some with ulterior motives started to manufacture trouble. In fact, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has never been a problem. China always respects and supports the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries in the South China Sea in accordance with international law. Recently, the Philippines, backed by external forces, has been going back on its words and making provocations. This is the root cause of the current tensions at sea. On maritime disputes, China has been exercising a high degree of restraint. We maintain that parties should find solutions that are acceptable to each and all by working in the spirit of good-neighborliness and friendship, and on the basis of respecting historical and legal facts. We hope that countries from outside this region can earnestly respect regional countries’ effort to uphold peace and stability, refrain from provocations and picking sides, and stop using maritime issues to create divisions or even confrontations between regional countries.
China is a major victim of cyberattacks. We have firmly fought to stop all kinds of malicious cyber activities in accordance with the law, and advocated joint response from all countries through dialogue and cooperation. Meanwhile, the origin-tracing of cyberattacks is highly complex and sensitive. When investigating and determining the nature of cyber cases, one needs to have adequate and objective evidence, instead of smearing other countries when facts do not exist, still less politicize or even weaponize cybersecurity issues.
China and the Pacific Island countries have long-standing relationships based on mutual respect and common development. Fully respecting the Pacific Island countries’ sovereignty and independence, and their will, cultural traditions and effort to seek strength through unity, China has been offering assistance to the best of its ability to the Pacific island countries within the framework of South-South Cooperation in order to help them alleviate proverty, tackle major challenges such as climate change, and pursue common development. China has no hidden agenda or military intentions in the South Pacific. Nor are we interested in engaging in geostrategic competition with any countries. At the same time, we do not accept groundless accusations from other countries and oppose disruption to the normal cooperation between China and the Pacific Island countries. At the same time, we are willing to communicate and cooperate with all relevant parties on the basis of mutual respect to jointly respond to the development needs of the regional countries.
Contrary to certain countries who are bent on stoking confrontation and creating tensions, China has always adopted a responsible approach to international and regional hotspot issues, actively promoted talks for peace, steadfastly upheld the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law and the agreed basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and advocated resolving differences and disputes through dialogues and negotiations. In the face of an increasingly complex international situation and common challenges, China has put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, elaborating on China’s solution to addressing global challenges. The Global Development Initiative sends a strong message in support of focusing on development and cooperation. The Global Civilization Initiative advocates respecting the diversity of civilizations and the common values of humanity. The Global Security Initiative promotes win-win solutions to conventional and unconventional security threats and challenges and advocates a new pathway to security that chooses dialogue, partnership and win-win over confrontation, alliance and zero-sum game. In this respect, China’s position has gained the broad support and recognition of the vast majority countries around the world. We hope the New Zealand side will discard bias, have a right perception of China, and work with the Chinese side to jointly build a better world with lasting peace and common security.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and New Zealand. Not long ago, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi made a successful visit to New Zealand, and the two sides agreed to have further high-level exchanges later this year. China stands ready to work with the New Zealand side on preparations for successful high-level visits to take our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to the next level, benefiting both countries and our two peoples. We hope that the New Zealand side will join the Chinese side in working towards this end.