New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, left, is shown the way by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on stage during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, April 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
March 31, 2019 - 9:49 PM
BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has urged New Zealand to provide a "fair, transparent, convenient" investment environment in a meeting with the country's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, that comes amid a dispute over use of Chinese telecoms equipment.
Relations between the two countries have been strained since New Zealand's spy agency in November stopped mobile phone company Spark from using Huawei gear in its planned 5G upgrade because of security concerns.
In opening remarks at their meeting Monday in Beijing, Li didn't mention Huawei directly but said China wanted improved relations that would serve the best interests of businesses on both sides.
Ardern did not address investment issues in her opening remarks, but thanked Li for expressing China's condolences over March's deadly shootings at mosques in the city of Christchurch.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019