Jenny Shipley, former New Zealand prime minister, was quoted in her praise on China's huge contributions to the world's economic growth and its efforts to promote reform. The former leader of the conservative National Party and New Zealand's Prime Minister from 1197 to 1999 was quoted on an article published by Chinese state-run People's Daily on Monday.
According to the article, the former prime minister said that China has actively signed free trade agreements with neighbors and other countries in and out of the region, aiming to find out ways to work together. She added that New Zealand needs to learn to listen to China.
Shipley was also quoted praising Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Belt and Road initiative, which is aimed to reshape global trade by building interconnected infrastructure projects in almost every continent. She called the plan as one of the greatest ideas that they have heard globally. She also added that the initiative creates the next wave of economic growth.
Shipley said that the circulating piece was based on an interview she gave to another Chinese state-run newspaper in 2018. She contradicted the claim of the People's Daily in her email to CNN that she is the author of the article.
Shipley said that the comments were made during her visit to China to attend the 40th anniversary of reform and opening in December. She said that as part of the visit a number leaders including her were interviewed by the China Daily and she claimed that the article was written and published without further reference to her. She, however, confirmed that the comments attributed to her were correct.
The comments of the former prime minister were publicized following current Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern press conference speech on Monday. Ardern said during the conference that New Zealand and China have a robust and mature relationship despite their differences of views on some issues. China is the second-largest trading partner of the country in the South Pacific.
Prime Minister Ardern falsified that the reports that New Zealand faces delays entering China, or that Kiwi ministers were struggling to get visas to visit the Asian country.
Reports of the rift started after Wellington, New Zealand's top mobile operators, boycotted Huawei's equipment in its planned 5G network due to security issues. The boycott came after the United States pressured its allies from using Chinese equipment, specifically Huawei, in their telecommunication plans.
