Ministry Statements & Speeches:
On 23 April 2026, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Bede Corry met with his Chinese counterpart, Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu in Beijing for the sixth round of New Zealand–China Foreign Affairs Consultations.
“The consultations provided an opportunity to discuss the significance of the New Zealand–China relationship, including the breadth of areas of cooperation, and issues where our perspectives differ,” said Mr Corry.
The talks reviewed high level engagements and progress in the relationship over the past year, including visits to China by Prime Minister Luxon, Speaker of the House of Representatives Brownlee, and a visit to New Zealand by Chairman of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji. They encompassed the significant trade and economic links, people to people exchanges, and cooperation on climate change, agriculture, and law enforcement.
The consultations took place against the backdrop of a challenging global environment and underlined the importance of the mature and comprehensive bilateral relationship that exists between New Zealand and China. New Zealand acknowledged the important role that China plays in respect of many shared global challenges and expressed support for China’s hosting of APEC in 2026.
Both sides acknowledged the impact of the fuel crisis on countries in the Indo-Pacific, and the importance of ensuring that supply chains stay open, transparent and resilient.
The Foreign Affairs Consultations reaffirmed the value New Zealand places on dialogue with China. Such discussions, alongside more detailed consultations across a range of issues, including consular matters, trade policy and the Pacific, help ensure that both sides understand each other’s interests and priorities.
The consultations also provided an opportunity to discuss areas of difference. New Zealand discussed the need for engagement in the Pacific to take place in a manner which advances Pacific priorities, and outlined concerns with rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, including in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Both sides emphasised the value of candid dialogue in supporting a stable and constructive relationship.
Secretary Corry and Executive Vice Minister Ma also had an in-depth exchange of views on regional and global issues, especially the situation in the Middle East.