Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, said on Friday that the nation sees New Zealand as an important partner and has confidence in the certainty and stability in bilateral relations.

Both sides should promote the upgrading of economic and trade cooperation, Wang told New Zealand's foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry.

Mahuta arrived in China on Wednesday for a four-day trip, the first by a New Zealand minister since 2019.

Wellington and Beijing had upgraded their free trade pact last year. China remains New Zealand's largest trading partner. (Reuters)