CRI听力:China Calls on New Zealand to Strengthen Ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has expressed the hope of strengthening ties between China and New Zealand and the establishment of a "community of common interests".

Wang was on a vist to New Zealand and held talks with his counterpart Murray McCully in Aucland.

"As Chinese President Xi said, China-New Zealand ties are an innovative example. I think it's a good comment. We hope we can work together to set more new records."

For his part, McCully said New Zealand is proud to see bilateral trade exceed preset goals, and China has become New Zealand's largest source of international students and second largest source of overseas tourists.

During the meeting, the two ministers agreed that the two countries need to have a long-term plan to work toward a more strategic partnership focusing on a variety of areas including food safety, agro-technology and information technology.

The two ministers have also agreed that China and New Zealand work closer on scientific research in the Antarctic and implement easier border control regulations to promote tourism.

New Zealand was the first Western nation to sign a Free Trade Agreement with China in 2008.
The two countries now are geared up to see bilateral trade reach 30 billion New Zealand dollars by 2020.

The official adds that the WHO will work with all relevant stakeholders to accelerate the development and safe use of possible vaccines in affected countries.

If proven safe, a vaccine could be available in November for priority use on health-care workers.

So far more than 2,000 people have died of Ebola virus since its outbreak in West Africa in February.