China is willing to expand cooperation with New Zealand, said visiting Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Feb 10.

During talks with his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully, Wang said the China-New Zealand relations have achieved a leaping development since the two countries established diplomatic ties 45 years ago.

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to New Zealand in 2014 and decided to establish the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership, opening new perspectives for the development of bilateral ties, Wang said.

He hoped that both sides would take the opportunity of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to make plans for future high-level exchanges and expand all-round cooperation.

China welcomes New Zealand to actively participate in the “Belt and Road” initiative, Wang said.

He said China is willing to boost cooperation with New Zealand in such areas as science and technology, innovation, agriculture, livestock farming, biomedicine and biopharmaceutics, among others.

In light of the current international situation, China and New Zealand should not only advocate an open world economy.

McCully said cooperation between the two countries in the fields of tourism, education, economy and trade have become increasingly closer.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, McCully said, adding that it provides a great opportunity for both sides to enhance high-level exchanges and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership.

He also expressed his country’s readiness to actively engage in the “Belt and Road” initiative proposed by China.

He expected the two sides to be actively committed to trade liberalization and economic integration and play leading roles in strengthening regional economic cooperation which are in line with the interests of both countries and conducive to promoting prosperity and development of the region as well as the world as a whole.