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`s remark that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was a dictator, reports Reuters.
"No, and the form of government that China has is a matter for the Chinese people," Hipkins told reporters.
Asked by a reporter whether the Chinese people had a say in the form of government, Hipkins said: "if they wanted to change their system of government, then that would be a matter for them."
Hipkins is scheduled to visit China from June 25 to 30, leading a trade delegation that includes some of New Zealand`s biggest companies. He will meet Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and the chairman of the standing committee of the National People`s Congress, Zhao Leji.
China hit back on Wednesday after Biden referred to President Xi Jinping as a "dictator", saying the remarks were absurd and a provocation, an unexpected flare-up following attempts by both sides to reduce friction.
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