Vows were made?in Beijing?on Thursday that China and New Zealand would further promote their ties.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray Mccully in Beijing, capital of China, April 5, 2012. [Li Tao/Xinhua]

The pledge came out of a meeting between Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and visiting Foreign Minister of New Zealand Murray McCully.

Li spoke highly of the "long-term development" of ties since their establishment four decades ago, featuring frequent exchanges of all levels, increasing mutual trust, fruitful cooperation in areas including trade, culture, education, technology and tourism, and sound coordination on regional and international affairs.

The bilateral relations are in their best ever period, Li said, adding that the two countries, both major nations in the Asia-Pacific region, share common interests in maintaining regional stability and dealing with global challenges.

The vice premier called on the two sides to further enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation and conduct closer multilateral coordination, so as to make the relationship an example for countries with different histories, cultures and social systems and at different stages of development.

McCully hailed the great potential for further progress in the ties and expressed the importance New Zealand attaches to relations with China. He said New Zealand will strengthen exchanges with China at all levels.

Prior to the meeting, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with Mccully on Thursday morning.

Yang said China held New Zealand as a friend and partner in the Asia-Pacific region and was ready to further enhance their ties.

McCully reiterated New Zealand's firm adherence to the one-China policy, and welcomed more Chinese companies to invest in New Zealand.

Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, also met with McCully on Thursday.

Invited by Yang, McCully is paying an official China visit from April 4 to 6.