On October 24, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met respectively with New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key and Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meets with New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key in Hua Hin, Thailand

During his meeting with John Key, Wen said New Zealand is China's good friend and good partner in the Asia-Pacific region. The China-New Zealand ties have maintained a good momentum of development and the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries has achieved positive results. The two countries should let the FTA play a greater role and promote cooperation in such sectors as the resource exploration, food safety, energy-saving, environmental protection, science and technology, culture and education, as well as tourism. He also called for joint efforts against trade protectionism and to push for progress of the Doha Round talks of the World Trade Organization.

New Zealand highly valued the friendly cooperative relations with China, Key said, adding that he was satisfied with the remarkable growth of the bilateral trade boosted by the FTA. New Zealand is willing to deepen trade and economic cooperation with China, jointly promote regional free trade and fight against trade protectionism, he said. New Zealand has attached great importance to China's important role in the fields of food security, energy-saving, emission reduction and tackling climate change, he noted, hoping to enhance cooperation with China in this respect.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meets with Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein in Hua Hin, Thailand

During his meeting with Thein Sein, Wen said to develop good-neighborly and friendly China-Myanmar relations with mutually beneficial cooperation conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and will be conducive to regional peace and development. China sincerely hopes Myanmar will realize stability, reconciliation and development, Wen said, pledging to offer support and assistance within its ability to the Southeast Asian nation. Efforts should be made to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, infrastructure, hydropower and energy and inject new vitality into the development of bilateral ties. He said that he believed Myanmar could properly handle problems and safeguard peace and stability in the China-Myanmar border region so as to make it a bond for friendly cooperation and harmonious coexistence between the two countries.

Thein Sein said the two countries are friendly neighbors. While appreciating China's long-term assistance and help, Thein Sein said his country cherishes the traditional friendship with China and will commit to consolidate and strengthen its friendly and cooperative relations with China.