Launching Ceremony of China-New Zealand Mayoral Forum Held in Auckland

The Launching Ceremony of the China-New Zealand Mayoral Forum jointly organized by the CPAFFC and Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) was held in Auckland on November 21， 2014. Chinese President Xi Jinping who was on a state visit to New Zealand and his host Prime Minister John Key attended and gave speeches. Wang Huning， Li Zhanshu， Yang Jiechi and other Party and State leaders of China were among the 100 people attending the event.

In his speech， President Xi said the timely launching of the China-New Zealand Mayoral Forum created a platform for exchange and cooperation between cities of the two countries and injected new vigor to the development of a China-NZ comprehensive strategic partnership. Cooperation at local government level played an important role in development of bilateral relations. Cities of both countries were endowed with rich resources. He hoped the two sides would persist in promoting the forum and bilateral practical cooperation through this new platform.

He compared the relationship between China and NZ to an oil painting， and hoped to make it more colorful through enhancing cooperation between local governments of the two countries.

Prime Minister John Key spoke highly of the significant development of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties 42 years before， and the continuous effort made by the LGNZ and the CPAFFC to promote exchanges between local governments of the two countries. Bilateral cooperation did not just depend on the work of the central governments， but also on the concerted efforts of local governments， especially between friendship cities， and only thus could new achievements be made continuously in bilateral relations.

In her speech， CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin said that， entrusted by the Chinese Government， the CPAFFC coordinates and oversees the work of establishing and developing friendship-city relations between China and other countries. Over the past 41 years， China has established 2，146 pairs of friendship-state/province and friendship-city relations with 133 countries. The 31 pairings involving New Zealand had become an important channel to enhance people’s friendship and promote local cooperation.

She went on: “Rewi Alley， an old friend of the Chinese people from New Zealand， came to China 87 years ago， starting his journey of 60 years in supporting the Chinese people’s cause of liberation and national construction. Today， with the great attention and support from President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister John Key， we embark on a new journey of win-win cooperation between local governments of the two countries. The CPAFFC will work hand in hand with the LGNZ to make continuous efforts to push forward exchanges and cooperation at the local government level.”

LGNZ President Lawrence Yule said the forum brought more opportunities for practical cooperation in the fields of economy and trade， culture， science and technology， etc. He hoped cities of the two countries would increase personnel exchanges， deepen friendly communication and strengthen win-win cooperation to contribute to long-term friendship.

Witnessed by President Xi and Prime Minister Key， CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin and LGNZ President Lawrence Yule exchanged the Arrangement on Establishing the Mechanism of Exchange and Cooperation of Mayors of New Zealand and China between Local Government New Zealand and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

A high-level exchange meeting of mayors was held before the launch ceremony. The two sides discussed on “Establishing and Developing the Mechanism of Exchange and Cooperation of Mayors of New Zealand and China”. CPAFFC President Li and LGNZ President Yule made keynote speeches. Municipal Party secretaries or mayors of Chinese cities such as Guiyang， Wuhan， Guangzhou， Xiamen， Shenzhen， Lanzhou and Zhangye， and the mayors of Auckland， Hastings， Dunedin， Tauranga， Wellington， Christchurch， Hamilton and Gisborne also attended.

Launch of the Mechanism of China-New Zealand Mayoral Forum was one of the important achievements of President Xi’s visit. As a long-term cooperation mechanism， it provides guarantees for practical cooperation in various fields at local government level and lays a good political foundation for their future exchanges and cooperation.