FILE PHOTO: Chris Hipkins speaks to members of the media, after being confirmed as the only nomination to replace Jacinda Ardern as leader of the Labour Party, outside New Zealand鈥檚 parliament in Wellington, New Zealand January 21 2023. REUTERS/Lucy Craymer/File Photo
SYDNEY 鈥� New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, ahead of his official trip to China at end of this month, said on Thursday he did not agree with U.S. President Joe Biden鈥檚 remark that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was a dictator.
鈥淣o, and the form of government that China has is a matter for the Chinese people,鈥� Hipkins told reporters.
Asked by a reporter whether the Chinese people had a say in the form of government, Hipkins said: 鈥渋f they wanted to change their system of government, then that would be a matter for them.鈥�
Hipkins is scheduled to visit China from June 25 to 30, leading a trade delegation that includes some of New Zealand鈥檚 biggest companies. He will meet Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and the chairman of the standing committee of the National People鈥檚 Congress, Zhao Leji.
China hit back on Wednesday after Biden referred to President Xi Jinping as a 鈥渄ictator鈥�, saying the remarks were absurd and a provocation, an unexpected flare-up following attempts by both sides to reduce friction.