Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has acknowledged that his country has shortcomings in the area of human rights.
Premier Wen and his New Zealand counterpart, Prime Minister Helen Clark, have just held a media briefing at Parliament, following bilateral talks at the Beehive this morning.
Mr Wen arrived in New Zealand last night for a 36-hour visit.
He told the media briefing China was in the process of “opening up”, which was seeing Chinese people getting far more rights in travel, information, and choosing their jobs.
But he said that did not mean China believed it had been perfect in its human rights record, and it did have shortcomings.
Mr Wen, whose words were translated, said in the process of advancing economic restructuring, China had been working to promote political systems reform.
Protesters greet Premier at Parliament
A small scattering of protesters including some Green Party MPs were at Parliament when Mr Wen arrived this morning.
Three Green MPs standing on Parliament’s forecourt held up a Tibetan flag as he walked up Parliament’s steps, in protest at China’s human rights’ record.
Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says the protest was also about carrying on the tradition of the late Rod Donald. Last year Chinese officials tried to block Mr Donald flying a Tibetan flag at Parliament during a visit by China’s second ranked politician.
A handful of representatives from Amnesty International and the Falun Gong movement were also on hand with banners critical of the Chinese government.
They were outnumbered by members of the local Chinese community, who were there in support of the Premier.
Both leaders also expressed a willingness to try to complete a free trade agreement – which is the focus of this week’s visit – between the two countries within two years’ time.
Legal treaty signed
Law enforcement authorities in New Zealand and China are to co-operate more closely under a treaty signed at Parliament today as part of Premier Wen’s visit.
It sets up a system for both countries to request and receive the other’s assistance in areas such as the taking of evidence in court, the execution of search warrants, and the recovery of the proceeds of crime.
Police and customs officials will be able to seek assistance of their sister authorities in each country.
Attorney-General Michael Cullen says the treaty allows either country to refuse assistance in certain circumstances, including if the request is of a political or military nature.
Change of focus
Earlier today, the Prime Minister said New Zealand needed to change the focus of its economy if it was to continue to compete with China.
Miss Clark told Morning Report there was no way New Zealand could compete with Chinese wages.
Aid package for Pacific countries
En route to New Zealand, Mr Wen announced a new package of aid to Pacific countries including loans for industry development, training programmes and anti-malaria medicines.
The Premier made the announcement on Wednesday at the first China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Fiji.
He said China would provide $US370 million of preferential loans to island countries in the next three years. The funds are to boost cooperation in areas including resources development, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism.
Mr Wen said China would give zero tariff treatment to the majority of exports to China from the least developed countries in the region with diplomatic ties with China, rather than Taiwan.
Uranium deal signed with Australia
Australia and China signed a nuclear safeguards deal to allow Beijing to import Australian uranium for power generation on Monday.
Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane said big uranium exports to China were unlikely to start until 2010 as China would need to hold commercial negotiations with uranium producers in Australia, and new mines would probably need to be developed and licenced.
China is expected to build 40 to 50 nuclear power plants over the next 20 years.
