New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta expressed concern to China about providing lethal aid to support Russia in its war against Ukraine during her meeting with her Chinese counterpart in Beijing
Her press office detailed Mahuta’s cautionary remarks on Saturday, which took place just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his warm visit to Moscow, where Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin praised each other and their friendship.
Mahuta’s four-day trip began on Wednesday and was the first visit by a New Zealand foreign minister to Beijing since 2018. However, her visit coincided with Xi’s visit to Moscow, where he sought to boost Putin’s diplomatic position after the International Criminal Court said it wants to put him on trial for alleged war crimes.
Regarding the Ukraine war, Mahuta reiterated her government’s condemnation of Moscow’s “illegal invasion” to her counterpart Qin Gang. She also told Qin’s predecessor Wang Yi, who is now the Chinese Communist Party’s most senior foreign policy official, that peace and prosperity are the expectations of all parties, according to China’s official news agency Xinhua. Mahuta was quoted in the report as saying that New Zealand supports political settlement of disputes through dialogue.
China’s Constructive Role
Wang said the pressing task is to achieve a ceasefire and resume peace talks, and that China would continue to play a constructive role to promote a political settlement, the agency added.
During the meeting with Qin, Mahuta also raised concerns over the human rights situation in Xinjang , the erosion of freedoms  in Hong Kong, disputes in the South China Sea and increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait , her press office said.
The ministers discussed the possibility of New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visiting China this year, the office added.
China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner and New Zealand exporters rely on China to buy milk products and other agricultural goods.