Sat 06 November 2021:
In an interview to appear on Sunday on the US network NBC, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the United States has a “an incredibly important role” in strategic security, economy, and trade ties in the Indo-Pacific region under President Joe Biden.
“We welcome that physical presence, being part of important talks in our region,” she told the “Meet the Press” program.
“And we have seen, we have seen that greater … engagement in recent times.”
Ties between New Zealand’s neighbor Australia and China have deteriorated, since 2018 when Canberra’s decision to exclude Huawei Technologies Co from its nascent 5G internet network, further last year Australia has demanded an independent study into the coronavirus pandemic’s origins.
This has not affected China’s ties with New Zealand, however, as both nations upgraded a free trade agreement in January.
Ardern reaffirmed her government’s view that New Zealand will follow a policy of “integrity” with China, despite the fact that the country has significant trading links with China and has long been touted by Beijing as a model for its dealings with Western countries.
“We do still believe that we have the maturity in our relationship to raise issues that we’re concerned about, be it human rights issues, be it labor issues, be it environmental issues,” Ardern said.
“And it’s very important to us that we continue to be able to do that and do that regardless of those trading ties.”
(with agency)
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