国内英语新闻:China, New Zealand vow to further promote cooperation

BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- China and New Zealand on Tuesday vowed to further promote cooperation in areas including trade, agriculture, people-to-people exchanges and law enforcement.

"China-New Zealand relations have made great progress in recent years," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a join news conference after talks with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

Wang said two sides should further enhance strategic communication, deepen cooperation and consolidate mutual trust, to improve the comprehensive strategic partnership.

"We should further push forward defense and judicial cooperation and fight corruption and transnational crimes together," Wang added.

Echoing Wang, McCully said New Zealand is proud of creating many "firsts" between China and developed countries.

McCully also said New Zealand would remain impartial regarding the South China Sea issue and expressed his hope that those directly involved would restart dialogue.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi also met with McCully earlier Tuesday, calling on both sides to coordinate China's Belt and Road Initiative and New Zealand's 30-year infrastructure development plan.

McCully said New Zealand acknowledges the one-China policy and is willing to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership.