WELLINGTON, Nov. 22(SATV) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji has called for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and New Zealand during his official visit to the country from Wednesday to Saturday at the invitation of Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Auckland and held talks with Brownlee in Wellington.

When meeting with Luxon, Zhao said that cooperation between the two countries in various fields has achieved fruitful results, and the second decade of their comprehensive strategic partnership has got off to a good start.

China is willing to work with New Zealand to consolidate traditional friendship, enhance understanding and mutual trust, accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and be sincere friends and cooperative partners who treat each other as equals, Zhao said.

It is hoped that China and New Zealand can deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen multilateral collaboration, and jointly promote trade and investment liberalization as well as regional economic integration.

Luxon said that the traditional friendship between New Zealand and China is profound, and the relations between the two countries are long-lasting and stable.

New Zealand has always adhered to the one-China policy, he said, adding that New Zealand is willing to enhance dialogue and exchanges with China and carry out cooperation in multiple fields such as economy and trade, education, culture, tourism, environmental protection and agriculture to better benefit the people of both countries.

When meeting with Brownlee, Zhao said that China is willing to work with New Zealand to strengthen multi-level exchanges and interactions among legislative bodies and strengthen communication and collaboration on multilateral platforms to promote the development of global governance in a more just and reasonable direction.

For his part, Brownlee said that the New Zealand Parliament is willing to enhance friendly exchanges with China's National People's Congress and play an active role in promoting bilateral relations.

During his visit to New Zealand, Zhao attended the opening ceremony of a memorial museum honoring Rewi Alley, a dedicated New Zealander who helped build friendly relations between China and New Zealand, in Christchurch, and visited a local family at Gilchrist Brothers Farm. ■

Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee in Wellington, New Zealand, Nov. 20, 2025. Zhao paid an official visit to the country from Wednesday to Saturday at the invitation of Brownlee. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, visits a local family at Gilchrist Brothers Farm in Christchurch, New Zealand, Nov. 21, 2025. Zhao paid an official visit to the country from Wednesday to Saturday at the invitation of Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, attends the opening ceremony of a memorial museum honoring Rewi Alley, a dedicated New Zealander who helped build friendly relations between China and New Zealand, in Christchurch, New Zealand, Nov. 22, 2025. Zhao paid an official visit to the country from Wednesday to Saturday at the invitation of Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)