BEIJING, August 21 -- Vice-chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC and minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee Wang Jiarui met on the afternoon of the 21st in Beijing with Murray McCully, minister for foreign affairs of New Zealand.

Speaking positively about China-New Zealand relations, Wang also emphasized the important role of the relations between political parties in strengthening communication and mutual trust between the two countries. The Communist Party of China maintains a sound relationship with major New Zealand political parties including the National Party and the Labour Party, and it is necessary that the two sides further enhance exchanges and cooperation so as to promote a continuous development of the state-to-state relations, said Wang Jiarui.

McCully described how important the relationship with China is to his country and said that good progress has been made in recent years by the two sides in the political and economic fields and in cultural exchanges amongst others. The two major political parties of New Zealand in and out of office both value the relations with the Communist Party of China and the New Zealand Government will continue to be supportive of further inter-party exchanges with China, said the foreign minister.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Asia-Pacific situation.

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