On 11 November, the 3rd “City + Education” event was co-hosted by the Consulate-General of China and the Education Commission of Haidian District, Beijing, at St Joseph’s School in Christchurch. Acting Consul General Xu Haiyuan; Qi Gang, Principal of the Primary School Attached to Capital Normal University in Beijing; Liang Xiaohong, Principal of Yuquan Primary School in Haidian District; Sun Jinkui, Principal of Beijing National Day School Zhongguancun Science City Campus; Chen Zheng, Vice Principal of Beijing 101 Middle School; Rosemary Gillies, Senior ESOL Verifier from the Ministry of Education; Andy Walker, Business Development Manager from Education New Zealand; Steffi Porter, Partnership Manager from Christchurch Educated; Aaron Richards, Principal of St Joseph’s School, together with more than a hundred  representatives of teachers and students.

In his remarks, Acting Consul General Xu noted that Haidian District is a powerhouse of basic education in China and enjoys a solid foundation for exchanges and cooperation with Christchurch. He expressed hopes that both sides would further deepen educational exchanges and mutual learning, promote student and teacher visits, and enable young people from the two places to know each other better and enhance mutual understanding. The Consulate-General stands ready to serve as a bridge, supporting educational exchanges between the two locations and advancing people-to-people and cultural friendship between China and New Zealand.

Witnessed by the guests, the Primary School Attached to Capital Normal University and St Joseph’s School subsequently signed a sister-school cooperation agreement.