Qi Jianguo meets with New Zealand guests

Qi Jianguo, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), met with Jack Steer, the visiting vice chief of the New Zealand Defense Force, on the afternoon of November 11, 2012 in Beijing.

Qi Jianguo extended his welcome to the delegation of the New Zealand Command and Staff College headed by Jack Steer. He said that the China-New Zealand relations are in the best period in the history. The bilateral relations have become a successful example of seeking win-win cooperation on common ground while reserving differences between eastern and western countries with different social systems, cultural backgrounds and developing stages. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand, and China is willing to take it as an opportunity to make joint efforts with New Zealand to constantly push forward the all-round partnership on the basis of win-win mutual benefit to a new high. The relations between the two militaries have been maintaining positive momentum of development in recent years as evidenced by increasingly broadened cooperation fields. China always attaches importance to the relations between the two militaries, and is willing to work together with the New Zealand side to further expand cooperation areas between the two militaries, so as to constantly promote their relations.

Steer said that New Zealand and China have carried out fruitful cooperation in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 40 years ago. The New Zealand Defense Force treasures its relations with the Chinese PLA, and is willing to further deepen the friendship and cooperation between the two militaries through such forms as high-level reciprocal visit, strategic dialogue and professional exchange.

Ci Guowei, deputy director-general of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China, and Carl Robinson Worker, New Zealand ambassador to China, were present at the meeting.