Luxon said he might have a brief, informal “drift” with Biden this weekend.

But it seems to focus directly on China.

Everything is going according to plan: Luxon and President Xi Jinping will meet for the first time this morning.

Luxon said it would be a “very formal” meeting, reflecting the fact that New Zealand and China have a strong, long-standing relationship spanning more than 50 years.

“We still see huge opportunities for collaboration in the areas of trade, particularly around our primary industries, but also in tourism or education, and in other areas linked to renewable energy and climate change . »

These topics will almost certainly be on the bilateral agenda for both countries this morning as, according to Luxon, both leaders seek to further deepen the relationship between New Zealand and China.

This relationship was furthered somewhat earlier this year, when Premier Li Qiang visited New Zealand.

“China stands ready to participate in New Zealand’s efforts to double the value of its exports over the next decade,” Li said during his trip.

This sentiment was echoed by Luxon at the time and now he is turning his government’s attention more towards China.

“This year we focused on Australia, Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia.

“Next year we will focus on India and China and we will continue the same pace that we saw this year,” he said, adding that he would most likely visit Beijing in 2025.

Luxon also indicated that a trip to India was planned in 2025.

But Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman David Parker welcomes a closer trade link with China.

“They are our largest trading partner – they do not impose tariffs on us and they do not threaten to do so.”

But he also issues a warning: “China is doing some things that we don’t agree with.”

“They’re a one-party communist state, they’re suppressing free speech, they’re doing some things in the Pacific that we don’t like and sometimes they’re interfering in other countries.”

Parker’s comments do not seem to be lost on Luxon, who recognizes the fact that New Zealand and China have very different political systems and histories.

“We (he and Xi) will talk about our regional interests and some areas of concern. This includes the Taiwan Strait and North Korea.

Luxon said questions about China’s involvement in global conflicts will also be raised – “especially with what we’re seeing with regards to Russia, North Korea and Ukraine moving closer together as they l ‘have done’.

He echoed a phrase used by former prime ministers Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins – both of whom met with President Xi during their time in office.

“We raise these issues in public and we do it in private, but we will raise them.”