China, NZ renew sister city ties

Mayors and representatives from New Zealand and China are looking to boost cooperation and exchanges at a bilateral forum held in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, on Wednesday.

The 3rd New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum &Festival was themed "Mapping out a New Decade of Sister Cities Relationships". Co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Global Cities New Zealand, it drew representatives from 22 cities in both nations, including 10 from New Zealand.

Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said the mayoral forum has been a vital platform for China-New Zealand subnational ties, yielding fruitful outcomes in trade, culture, tourism and education.

He added that his association would work with New Zealand partners to enhance bilateral friendship and practical cooperation.

Nadine Taylor, mayor of Marlborough, New Zealand's largest wine region, highlighted her region's sister relationship with the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, a major wine-producing area in China.

"Our partnership with Ningxia has grown throughout the years," Taylor said.

"As we face global challenges, our regions must work together, not only in trade, but in innovation, sustainability and cultural exchange."

David Tyney, head of Marlborough-based Cirro Wines, noted the success of the winemaker exchange programs between the two regions.

"We share information about making wine in New Zealand, while the Chinese winemakers teach me about the Chinese wine market," Tyney said.

His company, which began exporting to China in 2012, has seen its sales volume in the country grow steadily. China is now one of its top three export markets, with sales increasing roughly 20 percent annually in recent years.

Tyney plans to begin producing wine in China this year under his company's New Zealand brand, while also assisting Chinese winemakers in producing their own wines in New Zealand.

Parley Reynolds, strategic development manager for kiwi fruit exporter Zespri in Chengdu, believes stronger sister-city ties will help his company better understand Chinese consumers and expand its business in China.

China is Zespri's largest and most important single country market. Last year, the company sold 150,000 metric tons of kiwi in the Chinese mainland market, a 40 percent increase year-on-year, with total sales exceeding 1.1 billion New Zealand dollars ($654.6 million) for the first time.

Reynolds is working on a five-year project in Chengdu, monitoring the local kiwi fruit industry to determine if growers can meet Zespri standards and supply the Chinese market during New Zealand's offseason.

"The results so far are very positive, and we are excited about the potential," he said.

"We believe that it is possible to create a win-win situation for all parties involved."

Grant Smith, president of Global Cities New Zealand and mayor of Palmerston North, said the forum's main goal is reconnection.

"We've come with the intentions of renewing our friendships with Chinese cities, reconnecting and seeing where we can continue to do good work in education, trade, research and people-to-people cultural connections," Smith said.

China and New Zealand have had sister city relationships since the 1980s. To date, there are 42 pairs of sister provinces and sister cities.