WELLINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins trod a careful line on his first trip to China last week as leader, focusing on trade and economic opportunities but avoiding contentious issues such as human rights abuses in Xinjiang or security concerns. New Zealand has long been seen as the most conciliatory towards China among the Five Eyes security grouping, which includes Australia, the U.S., Britain and Canada. “(Hipkins's) visit certainly gave China a tick in the international legitimacy box and Beijing has gained at least as much from Hipkins' visit as New Zealand exporters,” Victoria University's Ayson said. New Zealand exporters were prominent in the visit with a delegation of 29 businesses travelling with the prime minister to China. The most recent polls from late May put a coalition of opposition parties National and Act ahead of a Labour-Green party coalition.

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Persons: Chris Hipkins trod, Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, ”, Robert Ayson, “ Hipkins, Nanaia Mahuta, Xi Jinping, University's Ayson, David Capie, Derek J, Grossman, Biden, Lucy Craymer, Lincoln Organizations: WELLINGTON, Zealand, Labour, Victoria University, Labour Party, Centre, Strategic Studies, National, Green, RAND Corp, Wellington, “, Thomson Locations: China, Xinjiang, Zealand, Australia, U.S, Britain, Canada, Hong Kong, Pacific, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, Hipkins, New Zealand, Auckland, United States, India, Russia, Washington