Yang Jiechi (R), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters Friday.

Yang, who is also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said the development potential of relations between China and New Zealand was huge. The leaders of the two countries have met several times and pointed out the direction for the development of bilateral relations.

"Under the new situation, the two sides should seriously implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen mutual political trust, advance pragmatic cooperation, work together to facilitate Belt and Road construction, safeguard the multilateral free trade system, and advance the negotiations on upgrading bilateral free trade pact," Yang said.

Peters said that New Zealand attached great importance to developing relations with China, adhered to the one-China policy, and was willing to work with China to cement high-level exchanges, strengthen cooperation and push for greater development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.