AUCKLAND, New Zealand, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping held talks with the Governor-General of New Zealand, Anand Satyanand, here on Thursday and both stressed the importance of further enhancing bilateral relations to a new height.

Xi, who arrived here earlier in the day for a three-day official visit, said the bilateral relationship between the two countries is at its best time in history, with frequent high-level exchanges and enhanced mutual political trust.

The exchanges and cooperation in the fields of education, science and technology, culture and tourism have also deepened, he said.

Xi said with the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between China and New Zealand in October 2008, bilateral trade has increased rapidly. China has now become New Zealand's second largest trade partner and third largest export market.

The Chinese vice president also stressed that the Chinese government attaches great importance to China-New Zealand relations and regards Wellington as a good friend and partner in China's mutually-beneficial cooperation with the countries in the Asia-Pacific region.