KEY POINTS:
Defence Minister Phil Goff passed on New Zealand's support for China's position on North Korea's nuclear testing during high level defence talks in Beijing yesterday.
Mr Goff was meeting Minister of National Defence, General Cao Gang Chuan, one of China's most senior political figures.
Mr Goff also had discussions at the Academy of Military Science which advises the Central Military Commission, China's highest military command.
"The discussions enabled New Zealand and China to canvass major security and defence issues of concern to the region, including the North Korean nuclear test and nuclear proliferation, the potential for conflict over Taiwan and tensions in the Middle East and the Pacific", Mr Goff said.
"With Minister Cao, I welcomed China's support for Resolution 1718 of the United Nations Security Council against North Korea's nuclear test and China's apparently successful efforts to persuade North Korea to return to the six party talks."
Mr Goff said he and Minister Cao agreed that nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula was potentially disastrous for regional stability and non-proliferation.
"At all meetings I promoted the need for effective action to achieve nuclear disarmament and promote non-proliferation generally," Mr Goff said.
He also addressed more than 150 senior military officers at the prestigious National Defence University and during a "lively discussion" emphasised that New Zealand had urged Taiwan not to provoke confrontation by declaring independence.
But he also said China needed to resolve issues through diplomacy not force.
While in Beijing, Mr Goff launched a five episode television documentary series, New Zealand Journeys.
The Natural History New Zealand series was produced in collaboration with China Central Television with state funding and will be eventually viewed by up to 300 million Chinese viewers, Mr Goff said.
- NZPA
