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Signing Ceremony of the New Zealand Centre at Peking University MOU Marks 15-year Partnership Success
01/08/2022 - On July 27, 2022, the signing ceremony of the renewed MOU of New Zealand Centre at Peking University as international education collaboration between the Chinese university and all eight New Zealand universities was held, marking the fifteen years of the collaboration.
On July 27, 2022, the signing ceremony of the renewed Memorandum of Understanding of New Zealand Centre at Peking University as international education collaboration between the Chinese university and all eight New Zealand universities was held, marking the fifteen years of the collaboration. The signing ceremony is so arranged in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of China-New Zealand Diplomatic Relationship. Two signing sites were arranged, one at Peking University, the other at the Beehive, New Zealand Parliament’s Executive Wing Building, for the convenience of speakers and participants from two countries. The two sites of the signing ceremony were connected with Zoom for simultaneous engagement. Distinguished speakers–in person and via Zoom–included Chinese Vice Minister of Education Hon Tian Xuejun, New Zealand Education Minister Hon Chris Hipkins, New Zealand Ambassador to China Her Excellency Ms Clare Fearnley, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand His Excellency Wang Xiaolong, President of Peking University Professor Gong Qihuang, Vice President of Peking University Professor Wang Bo, Vice-Chancellor of Massey University and Chair of Universities New Zealand–Te Pōkai Tara Professor Jan Thomas, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Waikato University and Chair of the New Zealand Advisory Board of the New Zealand Centre Professor Alister Jones. Many former New Zealand ambassadors to China and China experts from across New Zealand’s universities were among guests at the ceremony.
Peking University Signing Site Image: President of Peking University Professor Gong Qihuang, Deputy Head of Mission James Waite, and Vice President of Peking University Professor Wang Bo, Chair of Academic Committee of School of Foreign Languages Professor Li Shujing, Director of New Zealand Centre Professor Liu Shusen, Executive Director of PKU Office of International Relations Li Yun, Vice Dean of School of Foreign LanguagesProfessor Wu Jiewei, Science and Innovation Counsellor Clinton Watson, Education Counsellor Miranda Herbert
The signing ceremony was co-hosted by Vice President of Peking University Professor Wang Bo and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Waikato University and Chair of the New Zealand Advisory Board of the New Zealand Centre Professor Alister Jones. The speakers at the ceremony include ministerial leaders, ambassadors, and university leaders from the two countries.
New Zealand Signing Site at the Beehive Image: Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara Chair and Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas, New Zealand Education Minister Hon Chris Hipkins, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand His Excellency Wang Xiaolong, and Chair of the New Zealand Advisory Board of the New Zealand Centre at Peking University Professor Alister Jones.
Hon Minister Chris Hipkins said in his speech that since New Zealand and China established diplomatic relations 50 years ago, there have been frequent exchanges between the two countries in various fields. The New Zealand Center at Peking University is one of the models of educational cooperation between the two countries. Since its establishment, various exchange and cooperation programmes have effectively promoted bilateral cooperation in various fields. It is hoped that the Centre can further promote people-to-people friendship between the two countries through the New Zealand Studies Chair Professor Programme named after Rewi Alley, a famous New Zealand educator and author who had made great contributions to the friendship between New Zealand and China. Hon Vice Minster Tian Xuejun said in his speech that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand, the education departments of the both sides have made joint efforts to gradually create a multi-level, wide-range and wide-coverage pattern of exchange and cooperation in education between China and New Zealand. A series of highly in-depth research projects and extensive and warm educational activities carried out by the New Zealand Centre at Peking University have become a vivid manifestation of the strong cooperation, complementary advantages and win-win cooperation between Chinese and New Zealand colleges and universities. It has set an example for the exchange and cooperation of higher education between China and New Zealand. The Chinese government will unswervingly adhere to the opening up of education to the outside world, strengthen mutual learning, integration and exchanges with other countries in the world, including New Zealand, constantly deepen practical cooperation in the field of education between China and New Zealand, and make new contributions to the development of bilateral relations. In her speech, Her Excellency Ambassador Clare Fearnley recalled her life experience studying at Peking University and said that she had benefited a lot from the educational cooperation between the two countries. The New Zealand Embassy in China will continue to support the development of the New Zealand Centre and hopes to further promote scientific research cooperation between the two countries in the field of ecological protection and habitat protection of migratory birds. His Excellency Ambassador Wang Xiaolong pointed out that the close, strong and deep-rooted people-to-people relationship is one of the most important pillars of China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership, among which educational cooperation is particularly important. The Centre has made remarkable achievements in the past 15 years since its establishment. The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand will provide all necessary assistance to support further cooperation between the Centre's partners and continue to work closely with relevant government departments and agencies of both sides to promote more extensive educational cooperation and exchanges between the two countries. As Vice-Chancellor of Massey University and Chair of Universities New Zealand, Professor Jan Thomas said that she was very much honored to attend the signing ceremony on behalf of the eight universities in New Zealand. Among the many international cooperation projects among New Zealand universities, the New Zealand Centre is a unique one. The attention of all sectors of the community to the New Zealand Centre is a testament to the important role played by the Centre and the respect received by the partners of the two countries. Students and scholars of Singapore and China have cooperated through various cooperative courses and scientific research opportunities of the Centre, which has promoted the sound development of bilateral relations. In his speech, President Gong Qihuang expressed his sincere gratitude to the two governments, universities, and people from all walks of life for their support to the New Zealand Centre. He said that Peking University attaches great importance to cooperation with universities in New Zealand. Since its establishment 15 years ago, the New Zealand Centre has given full play to its own advantages, promoted the development of New Zealand studies, greatly promoted the exchanges and cooperation between Peking University and New Zealand universities, and raised the level of opening up of Peking University to the outside world. It provides an important platform for dialogue and cooperation between China and New Zealand in the political, economic, cultural, educational and other fields. Peking University will take the opportunity of renewed signing of the Memorandum of Understanding to further support the development of the Centre at Peking University, vigorously promote academic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between Peking University and New Zealand universities, and build a bridge to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
President Gong Qihaung Speaks at the Signing Ceremony
Established in 2007, the New Zealand Centre at Peking University promotes the study of New Zealand in China and China in New Zealand and contributes to strengthening ties between the countries by promoting mutual understanding and co-operation across diverse fields of academic and other sector engagement. The programme is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Manatū Aorere and Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, the government agency for building international education. As Universities New Zealand’s Professor Thomas said at the signing ceremony: “It is a measure of the important role the New Zealand Centre plays, and the esteem in which Peking University is held, that this renewed Memorandum of Understanding signing and previous such occasions have been high-profile events involving government ministers from both countries.” “Both individually and collectively, New Zealand universities have many international partnerships such as this that enable teaching and research opportunities to enhance New Zealand’s relations with other countries.” New Zealand Advisory Board Chair Professor Jones says around 600 Chinese students have taken the Centre’s undergraduate course on New Zealand history and culture. In the meantime, “more than 200 Chinese students have visited New Zealand to study through the Centre and around the same number of New Zealand students have travelled in the other direction. The Centre has hosted some 50 academic fellows from New Zealand’s universities across disciplines ranging from history, religion and literature to political science, law and marketing to mathematics, medicine and environmental sciences. Peking University academics have paid reciprocal visits. There have been other visits and guest lectures too and the Centre’s events programme has been extensive, including, for example, a Writers Week featuring leading figures such as Elizabeth Knox, Sarah Laing and Ant Sang. Professor Jones says: “The Centre has gone from strength to strength during its first 15 years and with this renewed Memorandum of Understanding we look forward to it continuing to do so.”
Group Photo at the Peking University Signing Site
The Centre was initially a partnership with Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, with the other seven New Zealand universities all joining by 2014 and the first Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016 in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, witnessed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister John Key. |
