12 Thursday <strong>February</strong> <strong>22</strong> <strong>2018</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch hosted <strong>2018</strong> Spring Festival Reception On <strong>February</strong> 7, Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch hosted the <strong>2018</strong> Spring Festival Reception at the Consul General’s Residence. Honorable Megan Woods, Minister of Energy and Resources, Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration and Minister of Research, Science and Innovation; Honorable Members of Parliament Ruth Dyson, Joanna Hayes and Duncan Webb; Honorable David Carter, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives; Honorable Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch, and several other South Island Mayors, together with more than 100 dignitaries and guests from the business, education, tourism and cultural sectors of South Island, attended the reception. In his remarks, Consul General Wang Zhijian extended Chinese new year greetings to the distinguished guests and briefed the guests on China’s acclaimed achievements in the field of economic and social development in the past year. He pointed out that the 19th CPC National Congress has drawn a new blue print for China’s future development, with which China has embarked on a new journey to fully building a modern socialist country, and emphasized that China is determined to lay more emphasis on the quality of development than the GDP growth rate to maintain sound development momentum and satisfy the growing demand of people for a better life. Consul General Wang highlighted the remarkable breakthrough and progress of China’s diplomacy during the past year. He said China has successfully hosted the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the BRICS Summit and the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, contributing China’s perception, wisdom and solutions to world development in the past year. He stressed China’s commitment to building a new type of international relations based on win-win cooperation and creating a community of shared future for mankind with the rest of the world. In praise of the progress made in the China-New Zealand bilateral relationship in the past year, Consul General Wang noted Premier Li Keqiang’s successful visit in March, the meetings between the leaders and foreign ministers of China and the NZ new Labour Government, the ongoing negotiation on upgrading bilateral FTA, which all reinforced both countries’ efforts to push forward the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and injected new impetus to bilateral trade and investment. He acclaimed the celebrations of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties and the 120th birth anniversary of Rewi Alley in China and New Zeland, and in particular the series of commemoration events in South Island which he was privileged to take part in together with Governor General Patsy Reddy and several South Island mayors. He said driven by the development of bilateral relations, the interactions between China and South Island have boosted with increased people-to-people exchanges, broadened friendly city cooperation and further exploration in e-commerce, direct flights and Antarctica cooperation. He expressed heartfelt thanks to friends in all circles for their contributions to bilateral exchanges. Consul General Wang opined that <strong>2018</strong> marks the first year of carrying out the plan formulated by the 19th CPC National Congress and the 40th anniversary of launching China's reform and opening-up policy, and China-New Zealand relations are standing at a new starting point faced with vast opportunities provided by China’s reform and opening-up. He said the Consulate General will remain committed to working closely with friends from all circles to promote the greater development of the friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between China and South Island in the new era. Minister Woods conveyed Prime Minster Ardern’s spring festival greetings and good wishes and indicated that New Zealand-China exchanges have had a long history and the Chinese culture has left an important footprint in the development of New Zealand's multiculturalism. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972, bilateral relations have made substantial progress. At present, developing friendly cooperation with China has become consensus among New Zealanders from all walks of life, and at the end of last year Foreign Minister Winston Peters re-emphasized the importance of promoting NZ-China relations at a seminar marking the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic relations. Currently the two sides are actively advancing negotiations on updating the bilateral FTA and exploring opportunities for cooperation in emerging fields such as scientific and technological innovation. It is hoped that the development of NZ-China relations will bring greater benefits to the two countries and peoples in the future. This advertorial page is supported by <strong>The</strong> Chinese Consulate Mayor Dalziel spoke positively of the development of South Island's relations with China and appreciated the work of the Consulate-General in promoting bilateral exchanges. She pointed out that, with the increase of direct air routes and flights, connectivity between South Island and China has been improved, which has facilitated not only two-way personnel exchanges but also the export of South Island produce to China. <strong>The</strong> positive progress made in the exchanges and cooperation between South Island and China in such areas as culture and education has effectively promoted mutual understanding between the two peoples. Christchurch is actively building the gateway city to Antarctica and is playing an important role in NZ-China Antarctic cooperation. This year, the two countries will also make preparations for the Year of Tourism in 2019. She believed that, with the joint efforts of both sides, the Year of Tourism will be a great success. <strong>The</strong> venue was decorated with lanterns and festoons with a joyful atmosphere. <strong>The</strong> reception was followed by traditional cultural displays of folk music, calligraphy, tea art and martial arts shows given by teachers and students of the Confucius Institute, which attracted the interest of the jubilant guests.
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Thursday <strong>February</strong> <strong>22</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 13
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