WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that even “as China becomes more assertive in pursuing its interests”, there are still common interests on which the two countries can and should work together. New Zealand has recently toughened its tone on both security and Beijing’s growing presence in the South Pacific, in part due to the signing of a security pact between China and the Solomon Islands earlier this year. But at the same time New Zealand remains dependent on trade with China. Ardern said in a speech at the China Business Summit in Auckland that while there were areas of great importance to New Zealand and where the country’s view differed from China’s, New Zealand was willing to participate. “We will also support approaches and outcomes that reflect New Zealand’s interests and values and speak out on issues that do not,” he said. “Our differences don’t have to define us. But we can’t ignore them,” he said. New Zealand has consistently raised concerns about economic coercion, human rights abuses and particularly the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and democracy advocates in Hong Kong and more recently the potential militarization of the Pacific. On several occasions New Zealand has participated in joint statements on these concerns. Ardern added that managing differences in relations between the two countries would not always be easy and “there were no guarantees”. He added that he looks forward to one-on-one ministerial visits and plans to lead a business delegation there when COVID-19 measures allow, and that there is the possibility of foreign ministerial visits between the two countries as well. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Sandra Maler)
