Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key agreed during a meeting Monday to actively explore new ways to advance cooperation between the two countries.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) shakes hands with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in Wellington, New Zealand, Nov. 2. 2009. [Liu Jiansheng/Xinhua]

Li said during the meeting that in recent years, China and New Zealand have expanded cooperation in many areas such as politics, economy and culture.

He said they also have kept good communications and coordination on major global and regional issues. The smooth implementation of the China-New Zealand free trade agreement has helped bilateral trade surge, Li said.

New Zealand was the first developed nation to wrap up WTO entrance talks with China, the first developed country to recognize China as a market economy, and the first developed nation to sign a free trade agreement with China.

The development of China-New Zealand comprehensive cooperative relations suits the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries and is conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region, Li said.

He said respecting and caring for each other's core interests and major concerns are key to a stable development of bilateral ties.

Li said China is willing to work with New Zealand to actively explore mutually beneficial cooperation in sustainable development and cultural exchanges and to enhance coordination in multilateral organizations and on major international and regional issues in a bid to bring bilateral ties to a new level.

Key said New Zealand values its comprehensive cooperative relationship with China. He said the smooth implementation of the bilateral free trade agreement has benefited New Zealand a lot.

The prime minister said he looked forward to visiting China and attending the Shanghai Expo next year. New Zealand has spent five times as much on the Shanghai Expo as on the last Aichi Expo, an evidence of New Zealand's high regard and expectations for relations with China, he said.

The New Zealand government respects China's positions on issues concerning its core interests such as Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang, and sticks to the one-China policy, Key said.

Li arrived in New Zealand on Sunday after concluding an official visit to Australia. His three-nation tour will also take him to Papua New Guinea.