New Zealand PM Luxon to meet President Xi in China, then head to Europe

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will visit China and Europe next week, meeting with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang and leaders of the European Union, the government said in a statement on Friday.

“China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner and a vital part of our economic story,” Luxon said. “The challenging global outlook makes it vital that we are sharing perspectives and engaging China on issues that matter to New Zealand.”

This is Luxon’s first visit to China since he became prime minister in late 2023. His predecessor, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, visited in June 2023.

The visit to China will focus on growing trade, which was worth over NZ$38 billion ($23 billion) last year, as well as look to strengthen education and tourism links and to maximize opportunities for New Zealand businesses, the government said.

Luxon will then head to Europe to undertake bilateral visits to Brussels and The Hague where he will meet with leaders, including from the EU, to discuss trade, security, and the shifting geopolitical landscape, the statement said. 

He will also participate in the NATO summit in the Netherlands and hold one-on-one talks with several NATO leaders.

“Prosperity is only possible with security, and our discussions will focus on connections between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security environments,” Luxon said.

($1 = 1.6485 New Zealand dollars)

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Sonali Paul)