Wellington, New Zealand —Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand this week, Prime Minister Chris Luxon said Monday, a rare visit expected to focus on bolstering trade while setting aside security concerns. Li will be the first Chinese premier to vi…
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand this week, Prime Minister Chris Luxon said Monday, a rare visit expected to focus on bolstering trade while setting aside security concerns. Li will be the first Chinese premier to visit New Zealand since 2017, embarking on a trip that is widely expected to also take him to Australia. "I look forward to warmly welcoming Premier Li in New Zealand," Luxon said in a statement. "The premier's visit is a valuable opportunity for exchanges on areas of cooperation between New Zealand and China." Li follows a string of high-powered Chinese delegates who have made the trip to New Zealand in recent months. "The high-level visit in itself is a win," said Young, from New Zealand's Victoria University. Li is expected to visit Australia after New Zealand, although Canberra has yet to confirm that leg of the trip.