New Zealand Criticizes Uighur Muslim Issues To Security Pact With Solomon Islands, PM Ardern: There Are Still Common Interests

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. (Wikimedia Commons/Nevada Halbert)

JAKARTA - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, "as China becomes more assertive in pursuing its interests", there are still common interests that the two countries can and should work together on Monday.

New Zealand is known to have strengthened its voice recently on Beijing's growing security and presence in the South Pacific, in part due to the signing of a security pact between China and the Solomon Islands earlier this year.

However, at the same time, New Zealand remains dependent on trade activities with China.

PM Ardern said in a speech at the China Business Summit in Auckland that while there are areas that are very important to New Zealand and where the country's views differ from China's, New Zealand is willing to get involved.

"We will also advocate for approaches and outcomes that reflect New Zealand's interests and values, and talk about issues that do not," he said.

"Our differences don't necessarily define us. But we can't ignore them."

New Zealand has consistently expressed concern about economic coercion, human rights abuses and in particular the treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.

Not only that, Kiwi Country is also a supporter of democracy in Hong Kong and most recently about the potential militarization of the Pacific. On several occasions, New Zealand has been part of a joint statement of these concerns.

However, PM Ardern said managing differences in relations between the two countries would not always be easy and "there are no guarantees."

He added that he was looking forward to an official visit in person and plans to lead a business delegation there, when COVID-19 measures allow and there is a potential for a foreign minister's visit between the two countries.