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NZ to quiz China on human rights
WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- China's President Hu Jintao has arrived in New Zealand for a three day visit, with the host nation expected to query China over its human rights record. Small protests against China's human rights record were staged near the capital Wellington, a subject Prime Minister Helen Clark said she would raise with Hu during talks Sunday in the northern city of Auckland. Economic and trade links will be the focus of the meeting, with the North Korea nuclear crisis and terrorism also expected to be on the agenda. On arrival, Hu said his visit was aimed to "enhance friendship, expand common ground, further cooperation and facilitate common development," reported The Associated Press reported. China is New Zealand's fourth-biggest trading partner, with two-way trade in the year to May 2003 totaling 4.1 billion New Zealand dollars (US$2.4 billion). Hu earlier urged the world to give full backing to the United Nations in solving security issues. Speaking to the Australian parliament in Canberra on Friday, Hu said the world should reaffirm a commitment to multilateralism and give "full scope" to the U.N.'s role on security matters. Hu's remarks stand in sharp relief to U.S. criticism of the United Nations in the lead-up to the war on Iraq earlier this year. And in contrast to the parliamentary address a day earlier by U.S. President George W. Bush, there was no heckling from Australian parliamentarians or onlookers. (Bush heckled in speech) The two Australian Greens Party senators who interrupted Bush's speech on Thursday were barred from entering parliament for Hu's address. (Hecklers blocked) Hu's 20-minute speech was notable for what it did not mention, in particular the recent war in Iraq. Although Hu pledged China's full support to combating terrorism, there was no reference to the U.S.-led campaign to topple Saddam Hussein. Nor did Hu raise the subject of North Korea's nuclear program, an issue referred to by Australian Prime Minister John Howard in his welcome to the Chinese president. But he showed no such reserve over Taiwan, specifically reiterating that the island is an "inalienable part of China" and that its peaceful reunification was a common aspiration of all Chinese. He condemned what he called the "splittist activities" of those promoting independence for Taiwan and urged Australia to lobby for Taiwan's unification with the mainland. (China lobbies Australia) China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and is warned the island's government that any move to declare formal independence will not be tolerated. Maori welcomeThe economy of the world's most populous nation has been growing at around 8 percent in recent years and is expected to treble in size within two decades, a big enticement for regional neighbors to promote economic ties. New Zealand officials hope Hu's stay will kickstart moves toward a broad trade and economic agreement between the two nations. During the visit, New Zealand and Chinese officials will ink 10 agreements on trade access, biosecurity, education and consular cooperation. Hu on Saturday will receive a traditional welcome by warriors of New Zealand's indigenous Maoris and attend a state dinner at Government House, hosted by Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright, the representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II who is New Zealand's head of state. On Sunday, Hu will visit a government farm research center and visit a dairy farm to observe technological innovations ranging from robotic cow milking to genetic research and cloning, AP reported. He will also visit a laboratory researching drugs to combat severe acute respiratory syndrome, the respiratory illness that sickened more than 8,000 people and killed 774 people earlier this year, mostly in Asia. SARS is thought to have originated in mainland China which was the nation hardest-hit. The Chinese president will also meet leaders of major New Zealand companies keen to do business in China. Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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