Delegation to Shanghai Enhances Sister City Ties

Dunedin (Monday, 20 October 2014) – Twentieth anniversary celebrations of the strengthening sister city relationship between Dunedin and Shanghai continue with a major Mayoral delegation spending a week in Shanghai from 24 October.

The Dunedin delegation’s trip is in response to a delegation sent from the Chinese city in August. Its busy itinerary contains meetings and events designed to cement the growing economic, educational and civic ties between the two cities and foster new relationships.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says, “The mutual trust and confidence that has grown up between Dunedin and Shanghai is a very good platform for commercial development. We can enhance the tourism, education and business relationships we already have.”

The 13-member delegation includes Mr Cull, Deputy Mayor Chris Staynes and Dunedin City Council Export Education Co-ordinator Sarah Gauthier and Business Development Advisor – China Ying Qin. The Otago Chamber of Commerce is sending its Chair Ali Copeman, Chief Executive John Christie and International Manager Cara Bradley. Ngāi Tahu is represented by Edward Ellison and Dr Katharina Ruckstuhl. The tertiary education sector is represented by Otago Polytechnic’s Internationalisation Director Mark Doesberg and the University of Otago’s Pro Vice Chancellor (International) Professor Helen Nicholson and Business Manager of Global Partnerships/Biomedical David Grimmett. Malcolm Wong will represent the Dunedin Chinese Gardens Trust and the Dunedin Shanghai Association.

The city’s new international education brand, Study Dunedin, will have an education delegation under its umbrella. From the University of Otago, these delegates are Co-ordinator, International Marketing, International Division Victoria McEniery and Language Centre and Foundation Year CEO Roger McElwain. Also part of the education delegation are Otago Girls’ High School Principal Linda Miller, Otago Boys’ High School Deputy Rector Dougal McGowan, Kavanagh College Director of International Students Vicki Cullen and Taieri College Director of International Students Alison North.

The highlight of the itinerary is a sought-after meeting with the Shanghai Municipal Government’s Mayor Yang Xiong, at which Mr Cull will present two significant gifts. Two hand-bound books detailing events of the cities’ 20-year relationship have been created by Dunedin researcher and writer Gillian Thomas and bookbinder David Stedman, one for each city, and one will be presented in Shanghai. Mr Cull will also present a pounamu, kauri and rimu carving by Dunedin artists Ewan Duff (Ngāi Tahu, Te Atiawa) and John Burke (Ngāi Tahu), the design of which symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace.

Mr Christie says, “This visit will open doors for Ngāi Tahu iwi and the Ngāi Tahu Corporation to make connections they can build on. For instance, there is a lot of Chinese interest in Māori tourism.”

Meetings with the Shanghai International Chamber of Commerce and the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress (SCSMPC) will also take place.

Mr Christie says, “The Shanghai Chamber of Commerce has been a great facilitator of Dunedin trade over the last 20 years.”

A new Strategic Education Partnership will be signed between DCC’s Enterprise Dunedin and the Shanghai Education Commission. Significantly, the partnership will be witnessed by both Mayors, after their official meeting. Ms Gauthier says the agreement will create a strategic education platform and partnership with Shanghai that will position Dunedin as an international education study destination and source of educational expertise for Chinese students and educational influencers.

Ms Gauthier adds, “Study Dunedin is also co-hosting with Education Southland a ‘Discover Study in New Zealand’s South Island’ education fair, a press conference with key Shanghai media about Study Dunedin and an agent networking lunch to engage with key people about the advantages of studying in Dunedin. A school to school MoU will be signed, creating a sixth sister-school relationship between a Dunedin and a Shanghai secondary school, in this case Taieri College and Qidao No. 2 Middle School. There will be other engagements and meetings with provincial education authorities and other agencies in districts around Shanghai.”

Delegation members will also visit Shanghai’s Changning district, whose Vice-Mayor visited Dunedin earlier this year. Mr Christie says Changning has indicated it is keen to establish a relationship with Dunedin.

“Like our city, Changning is centred around a port. It has an airport and a one-stop service centre combining services from China Customs, China Inspection and Quarantine and the Bank of China. Changning markets itself as a ‘one stop service’ for commercial traders.”

During the delegation’s visit, Shanghai’s famous Yu Garden will host an ‘Images of Dunedin’ photographic exhibition and celebration promoting Dunedin tourism and education. Outbound tourism agencies have been invited, and Otago alumni and education representatives will also attend.

A meeting will be held with the Shanghai Tourism Bureau at which, Mr Christie says, the work of the SOUTH grouping, which promotes South Island tourism opportunities, will be highlighted.

Mr Cull will also host a function, creating an opportunity for Shanghai government officials and business people, New Zealand’s Shanghai Consul General Matthew Dalzell, University of Otago alumni, Dunedin expatriates and delegation members to meet and network.

Mr Cull says, “This visit is a great opportunity to mark how far we have come in our 20 years as sister cities.”

The delegation returns to Dunedin on Friday 31 October.

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