Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur with Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark on promotion of bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, Wen said the China-New Zealand relations currently maintained a momentum of healthy development, with the strengthening of mutually political trust and a step-by-step expansion of trade and economic cooperation.

The consensus reached between the two sides is being implemented, the premier said, and the bilateral cooperation has been incessantly deepening in agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, judiciary, culture, education, tourism and other fields.

Wen said the two countries have maintained a good coordination over significant international and regional affairs, and developing an all-round cooperative relationship between China and New Zealand is in conformity with the fundamental interests of the two countries.

"We treat and develop the China-New Zealand relations from a strategic altitude, willing to continuously push for a healthy development of the comprehensive and cooperative relations between the two countries," the premier said.

The talks between the two countries on free trade are proceeding smoothly, Wen said, the establishment of a China-New Zealand free trade zone is conducive to deepening the comprehensive and cooperative relations between the two countries.

For her part, Clark said New Zealand attaches great importance to its ties with China, expressing the hope that the two sides keep exchanges of high-level visits for discussion on an extensive spectrum of subjects including bilateral ties, so as to promote cooperation in politics, trade, economy, culture and judiciary and other fields between the two countries.

The prime minister said the China-New Zealand talks on free trade have made a positive headway, expressing the belief that the talks will continue to achieve substantial fruits.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the East Asia Summit.

Wen said China supports for a transparent and open East Asia cooperation, welcoming New Zealand to attend the East Asia Summit. He also said China would like to take the platform of the summit to strengthen its ties with New Zealand.

Clark said New Zealand enjoys a close relationship with East Asia, and is willing to consult with China during the summit.

Source: Xinhua