New Zealand former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley visited east China's Fujian Province on June 28, attending an investment fair aimed at promoting trade and economic cooperation across the Taiwan Straits.

In a meeting with Shipley, Fujian Vice-governor Wang Meixiang briefed the guests on the situation in Fujian, a coastal Chinese province on the west bank of the Taiwan Straits, in the context of building the straits' west bank economic zone.

"Such an economic zone is conducive to Fujian and Taiwan to further promote exchanges in economy, culture, science, technology and education.

Wang said Fujian is ready to enhance exchanges and cooperation with New Zealand in economy, trade and other fields.

Shipley expressed her appreciation for Fujian's plan to build the straits' west bank economic zone. "This project would play an important role in improving relations across the Taiwan Straits," she noted.

Shipley said New Zealand and China should make joint efforts to enhance exchanges and cooperation in such fields as bioscience.

Shipley arrived here Monday and is scheduled to leave here for Shanghai, China's economic hub, on Wednesday evening.

Source: Xinhua