Premier Li Keqiang meets New Zealand Governor-General Jerry Mateparae in Beijing on July 22. [Photo/Xinhua]

Premier Li Keqiang meets New Zealand Governor-General Jerry Mateparae in Beijing on July 22. [Photo/Xinhua]

China hopes to strengthen friendship and cooperation with New Zealand, Premier Li Keqiang said when he met New Zealand Governor-General Jerry Mateparae in Beijing on July 22.

China hopes to strengthen cooperation in farming, animal husbandry, biopharmaceuticals, food safety and new energy; upgrade the free trade agreement between the two countries; and enhance people-to-people exchanges, Premier Li said.

China is capable of coping with various kinds of risks and keep its economic growth at mid-to-high-speed, the Premier said as he introduced to Mateparae measures China has taken to deal with downward pressures.

It was not easy for China to maintain economic growth at 7 percent in the first half of 2015 given the sluggish global economy, the Premier said.

He attributed the growth to China’s efforts to deepen reform comprehensively and encourage innovation and mass entrepreneurship, which have led to rapid growth in the service and emerging industries.

China will continue the reform of cutting administrative approval powers and expand its opening up, and the economy is resilient and has great potential, he added.

China’s economic growth is important to New Zealand and other countries, and New Zealand is confident in China’s economy, Mateparae said, adding that his country wants to improve bilateral ties.