Luxon Sets China, Europe Visits Amid Tensions

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will make his first official visit to China as prime minister from June 18 to 20, meeting President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to discuss trade, education, tourism, and broader global issues. The visit comes amid escalating geopolitical tensions and after several former New Zealand leaders sent an open letter urging Luxon to avoid policies that could make New Zealand an adversary of China. Luxon has stressed the importance of engaging with China, New Zealand's largest trading partner, as bilateral trade exceeded NZ$38 billion last year and the nation seeks to revive Chinese tourism and student numbers. After China, Luxon will travel to Europe to meet EU leaders and join the NATO summit, focusing on economic ties and Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security. The trip underscores New Zealand's efforts to balance economic, diplomatic, and security interests in a shifting global environment. Foreign Minister Winston Peters dismissed concerns from the open letter, reaffirming the government's stance.