Interview: China playing leading role in Christchurch quake recovery

China is playing a significant role in the recovery of New Zealand's earthquake-battered second largest city, leading the reconstruction of Christchurch and the surrounding Canterbury region.

Chinese delegations and individuals were among official visitors to the city from more than 30 countries over the last five years, a spokesperson for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) told Xinhua Friday.

CERA, an agency within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, was set up in the wake of the 7.1-magnitude quake that rocked Christchurch in September 2010 and the 6.3-magnitude tremor that killed 185 people in February 2011.

Many of the visitors had also come to share experiences of the Sichuan earthquake that left about 80,000 dead in southwest China in 2008.

"Some of these groups include the China Development Bank, a delegation from Sichuan made up of government officials, entrepreneurs, tourism operators, professional educators and culture facilitators as well as groups interested in investment opportunities in Christchurch," the CERA spokesperson said in an e-mail interview.

CERA had shared its knowledge about recovering from disaster with government officials and academics such as the process to develop the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and "wellbeing work."

"We have also been able to discuss commercial development opportunities and we currently have some Chinese companies involved in parts of the rebuild," said the spokesperson.

The Christchurch Central Development Unit had been established to assist interested investors and developers and commercial opportunities existed for residential apartment development, hotel and office space development.

"There are opportunities to acquire the land and construct, or to enter into a joint venture with the current land owner," said the spokesperson.

CERA cited two major agreements as examples of the leading role played by Chinese organizations in the reconstruction, Arrow International's Memorandum of Understanding with China State Construction Engineering Corp (CSCEC) and Christchurch City Council's Letter of Cooperation and Friendship with Guoxin International.

In July 2013, CSCEC, the world's second biggest building firm, agreed to enter a joint venture with Arrow International, a major New Zealand construction company, after six months of talks.

The partnership aimed to provide access to a cost effective supply chain, as CSCEC owned steel mills and fabrication factories and had direct access to the China supply chain, helping Arrow offset rising construction costs.

And in September last year, Guoxin International committed to raise an investment fund of up to 2 billion U.S. dollars for Christchurch's rebuilding and regeneration.

Guoxin International, the international business and investment arm of the Guoxin Group, is a tendering and procurement company with a focus on major government projects, particularly in infrastructure development.

CERA was also maintaining communication with the bereaved families and those who were seriously injured in the earthquakes in China and other countries, particularly in regards to a proposed Canterbury Earthquake Memorial.

The communication included a private website and regular e-mails with progress updates translated into a number of languages, including traditional and simplified Chinese.

"These groups are also advised of and invited to events such as plantings, sod turnings and this group will also be invited to the final dedication of the Earthquake Memorial," said the spokesperson.

"CERA has been sharing it's story to improve understanding of what happened here, to deliver a legacy of knowledge, tools, and experiences for the benefit of local, national and international communities, and to help minimize the impacts of future disasters and improve preparedness, resilience and recovery in New Zealand and abroad."

Christchurch was battered by thousands of earthquakes starting from September 2010. Endit