New Zealanders tour Xiamen in search of cooperation

A delegation from Wellington, captial of New Zealand, visits Xiamen, Fujian province from May 27 to June 3. [Photo/fao.xm.gov.cn]

A delegation from Wellington, capital of New Zealand, organized by the Wellington Xiamen Association (WXA), visited Xiamen, Fujian province from May 27 to June 3.

Li Xiaoping, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office in Xiamen, met with the delegation on May 28 to discuss cooperation results and future plans, including the visit of a soccer team from Xiamen school to Wellington.

Li expects to cooperate with the New Zealand city in film and television production.

Janet Andrew, president of WXA, expressed desire to advance cooperation with Xiamen in the realms of economy, trade, and organizing marathons and study tours. She said that the friendship between Xiamen and Wellington has been strengthened by the residents of the two cities.

WXA presented a mere club as a gift to the Xiamen Museum.

Mere club, a symbol of courage and asylum, was a traditional hand weapon of aboriginal Australians. It was blessed by the Maori elder who witnessed the establishment of sister-city relations between the two cities in 1987.

Wellington City Councillor David Lee visited the Xiamen Jumao Photonic Co, and expressed hopes to import solar panel modules from Jumao to New Zealand and Nigeria in order to bring electricity to remote villagers and those living in mountain regions.

Founded in 1998, WXA has organized trips to Xiamen every three years since 2005. The delegates have come from all walks of life, with some being artists, politicians, teachers and museum staff members.