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New Zealand sister city to deepen China ties with Shanghai agreement

Xinhua, September 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

One of New Zealand's most enduring sister city relationships with China will be renewed and expanded with the arrival of a high-level delegation from China this week.

The visiting delegation from Shanghai will be led by Yin Yicui, chairwoman of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, the highest ranking official to visit sister city Dunedin, on the east of the South Island, in an official capacity.

The main purpose of the visit was to re-sign the 1994 sister city memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Dunedin and Shanghai on Thursday, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said in a statement Monday.

Dunedin was already reaping the benefits of its strong relationships with China, particularly in the areas of education, tourism and trade, Cull said.

The updated MoU would build on existing relationships and have an increased focus on science, technology and innovation, sustainability and environmental protection, and creative industries and networks.

As part of the updated agreement, the Dunedin City Council, through its Enterprise Dunedin agency, would be engaging with the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission with a view to collaborative research opportunities with the likes of the Dunedin-based University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic.

"Earlier this year, Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong and I discussed opportunities to include sustainability in the updated agreement," said Cull.

"The context for this addition is for our cities to exchange knowledge and expertise on reducing our carbon footprint, responding to climate change and taking advantage of economic opportunities in a changing energy context."

The two UNESCO Creative Cities would also be looking at opportunities for cultural exchanges and other ways to collaborate.

Enterprise Dunedin and Shanghai Media Group, one of China's largest media and cultural companies, will sign an MoU aimed at making it easier for Chinese production companies to film in Dunedin and the surrounding Otago region.

The delegation would also attend the opening of a permanent Shanghai photographic exhibition in the Shanghai Room of the Dunedin Municipal Chambers. Endit