WELLINGTON -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for joint efforts with New Zealand to work for "an even better future" of bilateral relations.

In a signed article published on the New Zealand Herald, Xi said he is looking forward to his upcoming visit to the country, during which he will discuss with the government and people from various sectors about ways to advance bilateral ties.

The Chinese president lauded the friendship between the two peoples and "historic strides forward" in their bilateral relations.

"The two countries have set many records in China's relations with developed countries," Xi said.

"For example, China is now the largest trading partner and source of international students for New Zealand. In particular, New Zealand is the first developed country to have signed and implemented a free trade agreement with China," Xi said.

"From more quality and inexpensive goods and services to more jobs, from more convenient people-to-people exchanges to better study opportunities, more and more visible and tangible benefits are made available to our two countries and peoples as a result of our friendly cooperation," Xi said.

Stressing mutual respect and equality, complementarity and mutual benefit, and a pioneering spirit and the readiness to seek common ground while shelving differences, Xi said the China-New Zealand relations have gone beyond the bilateral scope and set a fine example for the pursuit of successful state-to-state relations.

As both nations are striving for reform and development, more converging interests are seen between China and New Zealand, said Xi.

"Aligning our development strategies effectively, we will have the rare opportunities and broad prospects for even stronger cooperation in all fields," he said.

XI'S PROPOSALS

To better achieve development and prosperity in both countries, the Chinese president outlined a three-point proposal.

Firstly, the two countries should forge a new pattern of converging interests. They need to advance practical cooperation in various fields and build a strong community of common interests.

"We should consolidate the basis of cooperation in agriculture, husbandry and other traditional sectors, and at the same time create new bright spots of cooperation," Xi said.

With China's strengths in infrastructure and manufacturing and New Zealand's advantages in agricultural science and technology, IT and clean energy, the two countries have much to offer to each other and may draw upon each other's strong points, Xi said.

The two sides should be committed to win-win co-operation, keep the markets open and create a more friendly and level playing field for their companies to access each other's market, make investment and grow businesses, Xi said.

Secondly, the two countries should open new horizons for cultural and people-to-people exchanges.