WELLINGTON -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao saidhere Thursday that China and New Zealand should facilitate understanding and friendship between their peoples through cultural and educational exchanges to ensure a steady development of bilateral relationship.

Wen, who is here on an official visit, made the remarks at a meeting with New Zealand Governor-General Silvia Cartwright.

Wen said the growth of China-New Zealand relations is not only in the interests of the two countries but also conducive to the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Therefore, China will handle the bilateral relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective and is willing to increase dialogue and cooperation with New Zealand, he added.

Although economic and trade cooperation is indispensable elements in bilateral ties, cultural and educational exchanges areall the more important, the Chinese leader said.

If economic and trade cooperation represents the present day, cultural and educational exchanges represent the future, he said.

Cultural and educational intercourse, conducted in various forms, could foster understanding and friendship between the two peoples, the young peoples in particular, the premier said.

Congratulating Wen on his successful visit to New Zealand, Cartwright echoed the Chinese premier's comments on how to improvebilateral relations.

New Zealand and China share many common interests and should learn and draw lessons from each other's experiences, she said, adding that her country is ready to increase exchanges and cooperation with China in such fields as agriculture and animal husbandry, science and technology, culture and education.

She said New Zealand welcomes more Chinese students to study here and will encourage more New Zealand students to study in China to learn its splendid history and culture.

Wen, who is the first Chinese premier to pay an official visit to the island country, on Thursday also met New Zealand Oppositionor National Party leader Don Brash.

Premier Wen appreciated the efforts made by the National Party in fostering friendly cooperation with China, saying that it was during the ruling of the National Party that New Zealand became the first developed country to conclude negotiations with China over her entry into the World Treaty Organization (WTO).

Wen said China is willing to make joint efforts with all parties in New Zealand, including the Opposition, to further improve the bilateral relationship.

Brash said his party adheres to the one-China policy, advocates closer bilateral ties, and supports an earlier agreement on a freetrade agreement between the two countries.

No matter which party is in power, there will be no change in New Zealand's policy to develop relations with China, he said.