Li meets leaders of ROK, Indonesia, Cambodia, NZ(4)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Oct. 10, 2013. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

In meeting with his New Zealand counterpart John Key, Li noted that the free trade agreement China and New Zealand signed five years ago has brought about tangible benefits to the two peoples.

China is ready to enhance strategic communication with New Zealand and expand cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, food safety and infrastructure construction, in a bid to lift China-New Zealand ties to a new level, Li said.

Key, for his part, said News Zealand and China have maintained close high-level contacts, and bilateral relations have been developing soundly.

New Zealand is ready to expand cooperation with China and properly address the issue of food safety, to ensure that bilateral cooperation can produce more results.

The Chinese premier also had a brief meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, exchanging views on boosting the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between their countries.

Li arrived here on Wednesday to attend a series of East Asian leaders' meetings and visit the country, the first leg of his maiden Southeast Asia tour since taking office in March.

The trip will also take him to Thailand and Vietnam.