Скачать или смотреть NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark visits, speech

(30 May 2005)

1. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark walking into press conference
2. Press
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Helen Clark, New Zealand Prime Minister:
"We wouldn't want to be the first to conclude a poor agreement, we'd like to be the first to conclude a good agreement. And the extent to which it's a good agreement will be judged by the extent to which it's comprehensive for New Zealand."
4. Press
5. Clark talking at press conference
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Helen Clark, New Zealand Prime Minister:
"I think New Zealand's dealings with China run parallel to those of most western countries, if not all western countries. That is, we seek to engage, we do have a frank dialogue about areas of difference which are obvious, but I think it's important to pursue a number of lines of relationship while you're still having that frank dialogue, and that's the attitude that every other western government takes."
7. Clark leaving at end of press conference

STORYLINE:

New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark on Monday said she was confident her country and China could agree on a pioneering free-trade agreement and said her government would not get involved in foreign disputes with Beijing over textiles and its currency.

Clark was in Beijing for talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other officials on the progress of negotiations on the agreement.

Clark said New Zealand wanted to become the first developed country to reach a "good" agreement with China, but did not set a target date.

She noted that similar agreements with Singapore and Thailand took about a year to negotiate.

Clark said negotiations would be tough and interesting but she was confident China also wants them to succeed.

The prime minister said potential sticking points are China's protection of its growing dairy industry and New Zealand's tariffs on textiles and footwear.

But Clark said New Zealand would not get involved in disputes between China and the United States, Europe and other trading partners over its surging textile exports and its state-set exchange rate.

In reference to talking to China about sensitive issues such as its human rights record, Clark said New Zealand and China has "a frank dialogue about areas of difference".

Helen Clark is expected to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao later Monday.

After China, she is scheduled to travel to Japan.

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