Murray McCully

Wellington, March 19 NZPA - Foreign Minister Murray McCully leaves on Monday for his first official visit to China, where he will meet Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and other senior leaders.

Mr McCully said today his visit would provide the opportunity for high-level discussion that was critical to maintaining strong political and economic ties.

"New Zealand has a deserved reputation as a trailblazer with China, as the first country to agree to China's WTO (World Trade Organisation) accession and the first developed country to sign a comprehensive free trade agreement with them," he said.

"Our exports to China grew by around 45 percent in 2009 - growth that was critical to New Zealand weathering the global recession and to establishing China as our second-largest trading partner after Australia."

While in China Mr McCully will travel to Shanghai to visit the New Zealand pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, and will meet Shanghai city leaders.

He then flies to Hong Kong where the focus will be on promotional activities for the 2011 Rugby World Cup that are taking place in and around the Hong Kong Sevens tournament.

NZPA has previously reported that Mr McCully might meet Fiji's self-appointed prime minister Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama while in Hong Kong.

Cdre Bainimarama is due to be there as well to attend the Sevens, and if their itineraries permit they are expected to hold informal talks.