China, NZ show that they want to build on their firsts

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been widely and rightly praised for the leadership she displayed after the right wing terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch. Now, on a visit to Beijing, her first to the city since taking office more than a year ago and her first overseas trip since the tragedy, she had an opportunity to demonstrate that New Zealand is a country that is open to new possibilities and welcoming of regional and global cooperation, as she portrayed it in her memorial speech.

At their meeting on Monday, President Xi Jinping extended his condolences and said that her proceeding with the visit at such a sensitive time showed the importance of bilateral relations.

That Xi and Premier Li Keqiang held separate meetings with Ardern on Monday, indicates how highly Beijing values its ties with Wellington and its willingness to deepen and widen bilateral cooperation.