New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the country's bilateral relations with China on the sixth Race Relations Day Multicultural Festival 2023 in Auckland over the weekend.

Carmel Sepuloni talked about the New Zealand foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta's recent visit to China, where constructive talks took place, and conveyed her hope for an even stronger relationship between China and New Zealand.

Over the past few years, New Zealand has come up against numerous challenges, including severe weather events and the pandemic, yet the economy has remained resilient and bilateral trade with China has stayed robust, Sepuloni stated.

"We value our Chinese businesses that are here. We value what you contribute to New Zealand, and long may that continue. Long may our relationship with China be strong," said the deputy prime minister.

Chinese ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong went on to talk about the profound friendship and long history between the two nations, CGTN reports.

"It is notable that the Chinese diaspora has made their share of contribution to the economic and social development here in New Zealand and promoting the people-to-people exchanges and trade and economic cooperation between our two countries," Wang stated.

The ambassador praised New Zealand's work in constructing a multicultural and multi-racial society. He added that the mutually beneficial relationship between China and New Zealand has gone from strength to strength over the years due to efforts made on both sides.

2023 marks the sixth Race Relations Day Multicultural Festival, hosted by the Federation of the Chinese Association of New Zealand, which promotes multicultural New Zealand and bilateral relations between China and New Zealand.

Chairman of the Federation, Steven Wong, said New Zealand is a multicultural society that the New Zealand Chinese also refer to as their second hometown.

"As overseas Chinese living in New Zealand, we shoulder the responsibility to promote social harmony and bilateral relations as we are part of the big multicultural family," he commented.