Remarks by Consul General Ruan Ping at the Reception in Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relations between The People’s Republic of China and New Zealand and the opening of A Moving Masterpiece - Along The River During the Qingming Festival Multimedia Exhibition
2022-07-05 11:31


Tēnā koutou,Tēnā koutou,Tēnā koutou katoa

Hon. Mayor Phil Goff,

Hon. MP Naisi Chen, Melissa Lee, Deborah Russel,

Representative of National party, Nancy Lu,

Ladies and gentlemen, Good evening!

I am very excited to join you in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and New Zealand by enjoying this multimedia exhibition.

Along the River During the Qingming Festival, in Chinese, Qingming shanghe tu, is the most precious Chinese painting. It not only recorded various details of the most prosperous city in the world 1000 years ago but also expressed the artist's idea of what a good life should look like. A large river runs through the scene, with boats moving up and down. A caravan of camels, laden with exotic goods, was entering the city gate. The market has a wide range of merchandise and services. Distant irrigated fields and suburban flocks of poultry provide a thriving life. This picture vividly depicts an ideal pattern of social and economic development, expressing the immutable logic of "trade drives the market, the market leads production, and economic development brings social prosperity".

Looking at this picture today in New Zealand, I have a brand new feeling, reading "Trade for all" and finding the DNA level connection between Chinese and Kiwis. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chinese communities for their vision in introducing this exhibition and their efforts to make this project done. The exhibition will add lustre to the celebration and also provide Kiwis with an opportunity to better understand Chinese society and the Chinese Dream.

Over the past five decades, China and New Zealand have worked together and created many “firsts” in China’s relations with western developed countries, irrespective of differences in political systems, historical and cultural backgrounds and stages of development. The partnership continued to expand and was upgraded to a "comprehensive strategic partnership".  With us today is H.E. Phil Goff, who has been involved in many of the "firsts". On 7th April 2008, H.E. Phil Goff, as New Zealand Minister of Trade signed the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement together with his counterpart Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming. That is the first FTA between China and western countries. Mr Goff is one of those visionary kiwis. But I believe the benefits our two peoples have today are far beyond his imagination when he signed the FTA. China is currently New Zealand's largest trading partner, largest export market, second-largest source of foreign investment, and largest origin of overseas students. Trade in goods and services between the two countries reached a new high of 37.7 billion NZ Dollars in 2021, underscoring the resilience of China-New Zealand relations amid the ravages of COVID-19 pandemic. The smooth development of bilateral relations over the past 50 years has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples.

The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, with growing risks and uncertainties. It is natural that against this background, China-New Zealand relations are faced with new opportunities and challenges. Several days ago, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out in a conversation with New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Mahuta that "The most important takeaway from the 50 years bilateral exchanges is mutual respect. Both sides respect the development path chosen by each other's people, pursue an independent foreign policy, cherish and advocate multilateralism, do not impose one's will on the other and stick to non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. The valuable experience should be cherished and carried forward."

Both China and New Zealand put people first and give top priority to improving people's livelihood, and are committed to upholding fair and effective international and regional rules and architectures. Both believe in openness, inclusion and integration, and multilateralism. Both oppose the war. Both aspire to sustain peace, stability and prosperity in Asia Pacific region. These shared aspirations make us partners. China-New Zealand cooperation at the bilateral, regional and global levels will not only contribute to building a better world, but also help the two countries better realize their respective goals, the Chinese dream in the case of China, and the Kiwi dream for New Zealand .

At present, we urgently need to dispel the fog of misinformation and disinformation, and guide our two peoples to enhance mutual understanding and form accurate perceptions of each other. Along the River During the Qingming Festival reflects the Chinese people's longing for a better life. For thousands of years, the desire for peace and prosperity of the Chinese people has never changed. Today's China, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, has accomplished poverty alleviation, and is moving forward toward the great goal of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.  At home, China is actively fostering a new development pattern and accelerating the building of a unified national market. Externally, China is advancing the Belt and Road Initiative under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to build a community with a shared future for mankind. In the new era, China will continue to pursue opening-up against higher standards, develop new systems for a higher-standard open economy, and continue to foster a  market, law-based and internationalized business environment, and provide more business opportunities for New Zealand and other countries.

Today, I would like to express my high respect and heartfelt thanks to all the distinguished guests for their contributions to promoting practical cooperation between the two countries and friendly exchanges between the two peoples. Let’s work together with the "number 8 wire” mentality to bring about further development of China-New Zealand relationship in the next 50 years and beyond, generating even greater benefits for both peoples.

Finally, I wish the Qingming Shanghetu multimedia exhibition a complete success.

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http://auckland.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/