Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will meet China's President on Friday, their first face-to-face meeting in three years.
Ardern said she won't say anything privately to Xi Jinping that she hasn't already said publicly. But she might have to keep some things close to her chest to avoid a dressing down like the one Canada's Justin Trudeau got.
China doesn’t like to be surprised. President Xi hit up Canada's Prime Minister after their formal meeting, accusing Trudeau of telling the media too much of what they discussed.
"Everything we've discussed has been leaked to the papers," a translator for Xi said. "That's not appropriate."
Trudeau responded by saying there are things the two countries will disagree on, to which Xi said: "Let's agree on the conditions first."
Ardern knows not to surprise the dragon in her own meeting with Xi.
"We say nothing publicly that we don't say privately. We're very transparent and we're very consistent," she said.
The Prime Minister has locked in her own sit-down on Friday while they’re both in Thailand, the first time the pair have been face-to-face since 2019.
"I don't think we can underestimate the impact and difference it makes just to see people face-to-face."
How drastically the world has changed since then, with COVID-19, China throwing its might, influence and cash around the Pacific, and the United Nations condemning the human rights abuses against the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang province. There is a lot to discuss.
"Some of these issues are things that we've been raising consistently for years," Ardern said. "I think that's really one of the incredibly important things about New Zealand and its relationship with the likes of China."
There's a new issue Ardern will raise, China's cosy relationship with Russia.
China only on Wednesday objected to using the word "war" in a joint statement by the G20 leaders against Russia.
"New Zealand as well as seeking every opportunity to seek an end, to seek a change in position by Russia and that includes talking to those who may have closer relationships," said Ardern.
Xi's been speed-dating world leaders while he's out of China and Ardern says she believes the facetime will ease rising global tensions.
"I believe it's making a difference. It might seem trivial but there's nothing quite like confronting different issues with different leaders physically in the room."
It's the room Ardern will physically be in herself soon.
President Xi isn't the only leader Ardern will soon meet. She's locked in a quick catchup with US Vice President Kamala Harris and with her mate - Xi's sparring partner - Trudeau.
The Vietnamese trade trip sandwiched between Southeast Asian summits wrapped, Ardern will now head to Thailand for the dragon of all meetings.
