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On the 18th of April, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Engagement) of the University of Auckland Professor Jenny Dixon was at the Great Hall of the People, and together with Peking University President Lin Jianhua and Victoria University of Wellington Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Peking University and eight New Zealand Universities, witnessed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and New Zealand Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key. The MOU represents the strengthening of ties between the New Zealand Centre and New Zealand, as well as its relationship with Peking University. After the signing, Professor Dixon was interviewed by the China Radio International (CRI) English Service about China-New Zealand Relations, especially about the MOU and the New Zealand Prime Minister’s visit to China. Professor Dixon expressed the importance of the role of the NZ Centre in engaging exchange between New Zealand and Peking University scholars, as a base for seminars and Prime Ministerial visits. In the interview Professor Dixon discussed programs run by the NZ Centre, such as an annual undergraduate course on New Zealand History and Culture, the Summer School for Peking University students to study at New Zealand Universities, research exchanges and collaborative research seminars. Professor Dixon also called the MOU a milestone for the NZ Centre. The agreement is important as new initiatives from the NZ Centre and Peking University are put in place. These initiatives include encouraging a broader range of research scholars from New Zealand traveling to Peking University. This will see more fellows from engineering and science backgrounds, as well as the already well-established relationship with scholars in the humanities. The MOU will also enable scholars from PKU to travel to New Zealand universities on invitation from NZ fellows who have already participated in exchange to Beijing, to build on established research relationships. In addition to discussing the NZ Centre at Peking University, Professor Dixon also responded to questions regarding exchange between the Chinese and New Zealand creative industries, in particular film, dance and natural history documentaries. She also talked about the promotion of the Confucius Institute in New Zealand and its growing influence on spreading awareness and understanding of Chinese language and culture in the education, business and tourism sectors. Professor Dixon is among a group of forty on a five day trade mission in Beijing, led by New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. John Key. The program and interview was broadcast on April 22nd 2016. The interview is available by clicking here (external link). |