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In spite of his extremely busy schedule, the New Zealand Ambassador to Beijing, His Excellency John McKinnon, once again kindly visited Peking University to deliver a lecture for New Zealand Studies. This year, the Ambassador provided his own thoughts on historic events that have helped to shape New Zealand's outlook on the world, and how this influences the New Zealand approach to working and cooperating with China. The New Zealand Studies Undergraduate Course is delivered through the Peking University School of Foreign Languages in cooperation with the New Zealand Centre. The course is a unique opportunity for PKU students to gain perspective on a small but dynamic country that enjoys diverse relations with China. The course is particularly enriched by regular delivery of lectures by government officials, economists, business representatives, and academics visiting China from New Zealand.
The Ambassador delivers a lecture on China-New Zealand relations to undergraduate students. The Ambassador described how New Zealand's economy had been severly effected by Britain's decision to join the European Economic Community (ECC) in 1973, thereby restricting market access and forcing New Zealand to look for new trade partners closer to home. This aligned well with the China-United States détente, China's accession to the United Nations, and China's "opening up" market policies, which made trade and bilateral relaitons between China and New Zealand a promising prospect for both sides.
A group photograph with the Ambassador. Students were eager to ask the Ambassador questions. The New Zealand Centre is deeply grateful to Ambassador McKinnon for providing his time to give Peking University's New Zealand Studies students a unique insight into China-New Zealand relations. Working with Education New Zealand, the Ministry for Business, Innovation, and Employment, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade are all represented through the work of the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing, with all three being vital partners in the New Zealand Centre initiative at Peking University. |
