Auckland, New Zealand - June 14, 2024 Storyline: Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in Auckland on Friday that China is willing to work with New Zealand to uphold common values, carry forward traditional friendship and make efforts to upgrade the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership. Li made the remarks when addressing a welcome banquet held by various social communities of New Zealand. Attending the event at the Auckland Museum and accompanied by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Li was greeted by a traditional Maori welcome, as well as lion dance performed by members of the local Chinese community. In his address at the banquet, Li said that in the 52 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand, the relationship between the two countries has long been at the forefront of China's relations with developed countries. He noted that particularly since Chinese President Xi Jinping visited New Zealand and the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership 10 years ago, bilateral relations have achieved historic development, which has not only brought real benefits to the people of the two countries, but also effectively promoted prosperity and stability in the region and the world. Li attributed the fruitful results to commonalities shared by the two countries, noting that the two sides should treasure those commonalities and make them play a greater role in the future development of China-New Zealand relations. Li said China is willing to work with New Zealand to uphold common values and shared concepts, further carry forward the traditional friendship, strive to build an upgraded version of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership, deepen and expand practical cooperation in various fields such as biomedicine, agriculture, food, new energy, and digital economy, and strengthen communication and coordination on multilateral issues, so that the results of cooperation can better benefit the people of the two countries and contribute to the peace and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Li said that since the beginning of this year, the momentum of China's economic recovery has continued to consolidate and strengthen, and in the long run, the long-term positive trend of the Chinese economy will not change. Noting that China's new development is a great opportunity for the world, Li said China is willing to continue to share opportunities with other countries and achieve common development. Luxon said in his speech that relations with China are one of New Zealand's most important foreign relations, noting that for more than half a century, New Zealand and China have leveraged their economic complementarity to continuously expand the breadth and depth of exchanges and cooperation in various fields, injecting strong impetus into the development of both countries. Calling the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between New Zealand and China an important milestone, Luxon said New Zealand will continue to prioritize its relations with China, and is willing to work with China to carry forward their traditional friendship, deepen exchanges and cooperation in areas including economy, trade, agriculture, intellectual property rights, education and tourism, strengthen communication and dialogue, and jointly respond to global challenges such as climate change and environmental protection. Prior to the banquet, the two leaders met with friendly personages from all walks of life in New Zealand. Li expressed appreciation to all friends in New Zealand for their long-term contributions to the development of China-New Zealand relations and encouraged them to continue to play a more positive and constructive role in the development of bilateral relations and the friendship between the people of the two countries. Shotlist: Auckland, New Zealand - June 14, 2024 1. Auckland Museum; 2. Attendees in banquet hall; 3. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon entering banquet hall; 4. Attendees; 5. Li, Luxon standing together; 6. Various of traditional Maori welcome performed on stage; 7. Various of lion dance, Li, Luxon watching; 8. Various of Li giving address, attendees; 9. Various of Luxon giving address, attendees; 10. Various of Li, Luxon meeting, shaking hands with New Zealand friendly personages, posing for group photo; 11. Cityscape. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]