Remarks by Consul General Mdm. Liao Juhua at the Opening of the Annual Conference of the New Zealand China Friendship Society
2010-06-01 11:19

on 22nd May 2010, Mdm. Liao Juhua, the Chinese Consul General in Auckland attended the opening of the annual conference of the New Zealand China Friendship Society and made a keynote remarks as follows:

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, on behalf of Ambassador Zhang and the Consulate General Office of the P.R.C in Auckland, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the opening of the annual conference of the NZ China Friendship Society. While I still recall the enjoyable experience that I accompanied His Excellency Ambassador Zhang to your annual conference last year, it is a real pleasure for me to be invited to this year's conference again.

I'd like to take this opportunity to brief you on the latest development of China and relations between China and New Zealand.

Last year marked the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and it was also the most difficult year for China's economic development since the new millennium. Facing the severe challenges of the unprecedented global financial crisis, China positively and immediately stood up with effective measures, and was paid back with a GDP of 33.5 trillion yuan, which increased 8.7%. This year is crucial for China to maintain steady and rapid economic development. China has put its key economic target as maintaining a GDP growth of 8%.

On 14th April, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu, northwest China's Qinghai Province, leaving 2220 people dead, 70 missing, many more injured and homeless, and causing serious loss of properties. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, efficient relief works were carried out immediately and have now made great success at stage level. Next step, we will focus on rebuilding the devastated area, and restoring normal life for the victims. Soon after the quake, Condolences and donations keep coming from the international community, including the New Zealand government, who donated 400,000 NZ dollars in support of China's relief works.

The Shanghai World Expo with the theme "Better city, Better life" was grandly opened on 1st May. As the first Expo being held in a developing country, focusing on the theme of the city life, with a broad participation of 242 countries and international organizations, 70 million visitors, and confirmed attendances from 106 heads of states, and over 20,000 cultural events to be held, the Shanghai World Expo will be a great platform for different countries to exchange their civilizations. New Zealand invested 30 million NZ dollars in the Shanghai Expo. The New Zealand Pavilion with the theme of "Cities of Nature: Living between Land and Sky", is well located in the Expo site, and will attract about 40,000 visitors each day. Prime Minister John Key will visit the Expo and attend relevant events for the New Zealand Day in July. I'd like to warmly invite everyone here today to visit the Shanghai World Expo before it closes on 31st October. I am sure you will find the trip impressive and worth going.

Ladies and gentlemen, the year of 2009 witnessed smooth development of China-New Zealand relations with Prime Minister John Key's successful visit to China and Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang's visit to New Zealand. This year, Prime Minister John Key will visit the Shanghai Expo in July, together with six Ministers. There will be high level official delegation coming to visit here from China. I am sure that bilateral ties will be further enhanced with the increasing exchanges of high-level visits.

Our two countries are also enjoying closer links in economy, education, culture and tourism. Thanks to the signing of the bilateral free trade agreement, China-New Zealand bilateral trade volume reached nearly 10 billion NZ dollars in 2009. In the year ended 28th February 2010, New Zealand's export to China reached 3.76 billion NZ dollars, with a growth rate of 37%, making China the second largest export market for NZ, surpassing the US. China is now the second largest trade partner and source of import for New Zealand. Over 30,000 Chinese youngsters are currently studying in New Zealand, making China NZ's largest origin of overseas students. 100,400 New Zealand people visited China in 2009, and in the year ended February 2010, about 100,000 Chinese tourists visited New Zealand.

Ladies and gentlemen, looking back to the past year, May I express my highest respect and deepest gratitude to your Society, for your wonderful works in promoting the friendship between our two countries and peoples. I sincerely hope and believe that you will make further contributions to the development of relations between China and New Zealand in the coming year, and we are ready to join you in this great endeavor.

To conclude my speech, I wish the conference a great success. Thank you.

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