New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern gets Japan and China confused during official visit

Ardern is in Japan to discuss trade and tourism with the prime minister Shinzo Abe. She will also watch an All Blacks game at the Rugby World Cup

A report released by the Asia New Zealand Foundation questioned whether the relationship with Japan had been allowed to ‘drift’ with more attention being paid to China

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New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shakes hands with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:16pm, 19 Sep 2019Updated: 9:08pm, 19 Sep 2019

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has blamed jet lag for an embarrassing gaffe on her first official visit to Japan.

Ardern had only just touched down in the country and was giving an interview when she said in her opening remarks it was an “incredibly exciting time for New Zealand in its relationship with China – excuse me sorry, with Japan”.

When asked later about the blunder, Ardern put the mistake down to jet lag, having only just arrived from New Zealand.

“You’ll understand I’ve been on continuous travel and just this moment I stopped here,” Ardern said.

New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern speaks to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a meeting in Tokyo. Photo: AP

Japan is three hours behind New Zealand and a direct flight between the two countries takes 11 hours.

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