New Zealand PM's China trip overshadowed by disagreement with Biden over Xi

New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins left for China this week, though beforehand publicly disagreed with US President Joe Biden's characterization of Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a "dictator".
Hipkins stated Xi was not a dictator and that China's government was a matter for the Chinese people.
Biden had called Xi "embarrassed" after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down over US airspace.
China criticized Biden's remark as "absurd" and a "provocation".
The countries have been trying to reduce tensions, though the exchange threatens New Zealand's push for a trade deal.