Li set for rare visit to NZ

Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand this week, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon said.

The rare visit expected to focus on bolstering trade while setting aside security concerns.

Li will be the first Chinese premier to visit the country since 2017, embarking on a trip that is widely tipped to also take him to Australia.

China is New Zealand's largest export destination, and Wellington has been one of Beijing's closest partners among Western democracies.

But relations have strained in recent years as China has looked to expand its military and diplomatic reach across the Pacific.

"I look forward to warmly welcoming Premier Li," Luxon said. "The premier's visit is a valuable opportunity for exchanges on areas of cooperation."

Luxon said Li would arrive to a ceremonial welcome and official dinner before a series of bilateral meetings.

Li follows a string of high-powered Chinese delegates who have made the trip to New Zealand in recent months.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi held high-level talks during a visit to Wellington earlier this year.

New Zealand's recently elected center-right government has pivoted towards closer ties with Australia and the United States. It has also been mulling its involvement in the AUKUS security pact between Washington, Canberra and London.

New Zealand's foreign minister in May hit out at China's bid for an increased security presence in the Pacific Islands, warning against actions that could "destabilize" regional security.

"New Zealand and China engage where we have shared interests, and we speak frankly and constructively," Luxon said. "Our relationship is significant, complex and resilient."

Jason Young, an expert on China-New Zealand relations, said Li's visit shows both sides were willing to set aside disagreements. "It's primarily designed for both sides to demonstrate that many challenges in the relationship are being managed," said Young, from Victoria University.

With China's economy showing signs of slowing down, officials were looking to "engage with as many markets as they can," Young added.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE