At the end of one of the best Wellington summers in living memory the autumn sun continued to shine for the third annual Wellington Xiamen Members and Supporters Barbecue.

As has become our tradition, a cup of specially imported Fujian tea greeted all comers, followed by general friendly socialising and, for the daring, an introduction to the ancient sport of bowling… captured on film by Simon and posted online at http://vimeo.com/64121213.

Mr Zhang Fan, Economic and Commercial Counsellor from the Chinese Embassy, tries his hand at bowls while China and New Zealand Business Council Co-Chair Linda Zhang looks on, 14 April 2013.

Special guests Drs Xiao Jihong and Yang Yungang, paediatric doctors from Xiamen First Hospital, had a great opportunity to meet and chat to a large group of Wellingtonians about their exchange.

A greeting from WXA President Chris Lipscombe was followed by a thoughtful address from Deputy Mayor Ian McKinnon on the value of Wellington’s oldest sister-city relationship, and its growing importance in today’s world. On a personal note, the Deputy Mayor commented that in his very busy year he always enjoys attending WXA’s functions.

WXA President Chris Lipscombe introduces Wellington Deputy Mayor and Victoria University Chancellor Ian McKinnon, 17 April, 2013.

The evening was topped off by a beautiful recital on the pipa by Jingyuan Kong, one of five Mandarin Language Assistants from Xiamen currently working in New Zealand schools on the invitation of the NZ Confucius Institute.

See you all next year!

On 10 March, a 22 member delegation with 20 students from Xiamen University of Technology arrived in Wellington and started their week-long study tour at Whitireia Polytechnic.

The Wellington Xiamen Association had the pleasure of hosting the delegation on the first day of their arrival. WXA arranged a full-day programme for them to see as much as possible of Wellington. WXA President Chris Lipscombe, Secretary Liqin Mi, Committee Member Huang Shu and member Ellen Yang accompanied the group to visit some of Wellington’s iconic attractions such as Parliament, Te Papa, Weta Cave, the top of the cable car and Mt Victoria.

XMUT students, WXA and Whitireia staff members at the top of Mt Victoria, 10 March 2013

The visit from Xiamen University of Technology is a direct result of the 2012 visit in September to Xiamen by Chris and Meijian Chi, Deputy International Manager of Whitireia Polytechnic. During the visit to Wellington by a delegation led by the Xiamen Vice Mayor in November 2012 a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the two tertiary institutions.

Whitireia Polytechnic is a WXA corporate member. WXA is pleased to be able to support its members in making connections with Xiamen. We are delighted to see the co-operation of these two educational institutions and look forward to welcoming more exchanges between Wellington and Xiamen.

Xiamen and Wellington celebrated 25 years of their sister city relationship with a visit to Wellington by Xiamen Deputy Mayor Kang Tao and city officials, and a special exhibition called Charming Xiamen Photography Exhibition. During their time here, the Xiamen delegation visited Victoria University, the Confucius Institute and the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa. At Te Aro School, the Deputy Mayor joined a class of students making dumplings, and was entertained by younger students singing songs in Mandarin.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown was delighted to welcome the Xiamen delegation. ‘Xiamen and Wellington are both outward looking, coastal cities with strong international connections and are attractive places for people to live and do business in,’ she said.

Xiamen Deputy Mayor and Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between their two cities, 22 November 2012.

The Xiamen Deputy Mayor also spent a morning at Porirua, with an official welcome by Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett at Pataka Museum followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Xiamen University of Technology (XMUT) and Whitireia NZ. Lunch for the party and representatives from Wellington and Porirua Councils was hosted by the Chief Executive of Whitireia NZ Don Campbell.

…and, to celebrate, a photographic exhibition from Xiamen, China.

To mark the 25 years of our sister-city relationship with Xiamen, Wellington is next week hosting the Xiamen Deputy Mayor, Mr Kang Tao, along with a civic, cultural and educational delegation.

They will bring with them a large photographic essay of Xiamen city – its landscape, culture, people and the development of the city over those 25 years – which will be hung on the mezzanine floor in the Central Library over the period Nov 21-27. It is hoped that the exhibition, showcasing this vibrant and beautiful city, will attract the attention of the Wellington public. Our two cities have many similarities despite our obvious size difference – both were built around trading ports, both have retained beautiful gardens and ‘green belts’, and both have boundless energy.

View from Gulangyu with the city of Xiamen in the distance

“Charming Xiamen Photography Exhibition”
Nov 21 – 27
Mezzanine floor, Wellington Central Library, Victoria Street
Mon – Fri, 9.30am – 8.30pm / Sat, 9.30am – 5pm / Sun, 1pm – 4pm

Entry is free of charge

Charming Xiamen Photo Exhibition

Meetings with Xiamen No. 1 High School and Xiamen Foreign Language School have confirmed linkages with Wellington-based educational institutions, and Xiamen University of Technology (XMUT) is looking forward to strengthening its connections in the Wellington region.

Xiamen No. 1 High School has existing links with Samuel Marsden Collegiate School in Wellington, with 20 female students from NZ visiting the school in 2011. Xiamen Foreign Language School has worked with Wellington-based schools in the past and are keen to explore links with a Wellington-based secondary school.

Chris Lipscombe and Meijian Chi with Vice Principal Madam Ouyang Ling at Xiamen No. 1 High School

The Xiamen University of Technology (XMUT) already has a relationship with Whitireia New Zealand, and our meeting with Assistant to the President Professor Chen Li’an, Dean of Design and Art Professor Kang Bin, and Section Chief of International Cooperation and Exchange Mr Lin Hongwei discussed further areas of cooperation.

WXA President Chris Lipscombe in front of XMUT campus administration building in Jimei District, Xiamen

Wellington Xiamen Association’s artist exchange programme with Jimei College of Art falls within the range of activities supported by XMUT, and is one example of the connections that link us with Xiamen. Other opportunities for connection discussed at the meeting included hosting or workshops for visiting dignitaries to Xiamen, and scholarships for international students, with a special emphasis on applicants from sister cities.

We hope to see the President of XMUT in Wellington as a member of the Vice Mayoral delegation proposed for November 2012.

Every year Xiamen plays host to the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) and a parallel Mayoral Forum for Sister and Friendship Cities. As leader of the Wellington Xiamen Association business delegation to 2012 CIFIT President Chris Lipscombe was invited to present at this year’s Mayoral Forum on the theme of cultural and creative industry cooperation.

The visit of our business delegation received significant official recognition and support, with public profiling and speaking opportunities at the Mayoral Forum and reception on Saturday 8 September and subsequent meetings with Xiamen Municipal Government officials, including the Director General of Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office Mr Hong Chengzong and Vice Mayor of Xiamen Mr Zhan Cangzhou.

Informal meetings were also held with Xiamen Wellington Friendship Association President Ben Van Rooy, other WXA members in Xiamen, and New Zealand Commercial Consul-General in Guangzhou Mr Pat English.

Xiamen Wellington Friendship Association President Mr Ben van Rooy and Xiamen Municipal Government FAO Director-General Hong Chengzong at dinner with a bottle of Bascands wine 9 September 2012.

The Mayoral Forum speech was an opportunity to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the sister city relationship between our two cities and provide some examples of cultural interactions over the previous twelve months, including the artist exchange programme with Jimei College of Art and the visit of Xiamen Song and Dance Group to Wellington for Chinese New Year in February 2012.

The creative industry partnership being developed between Wellington-based screen production and exhibition design company Gibson Group and Xiamen Museum was also a highlight of the speech.

Gibson Group Chief Executive Victoria Spackman holds a musical instrument for display at the proposed Xiamen Museum of Musical Instruments.

The delegation leader Chris Lipscombe was travelling to Xiamen to support Whitireia International China Market Manager Ms Meijian Chi. Also accompanying the delegation was Ms Jennifer Chen, Managing Director of Wellington-based trading company Richiwi.

Always wanted to see World Heritage sites Wuyi Mountain and Tulou Villages? Interested in the unique history of Gulangyu Island? Keen to take some classes in Mandarin, cooking or kung fu? The Wellington Citizens’ Delegation to Xiamen could be just what you are looking for!

The Wellington City Council and Wellington Xiamen Association are organising a trip to Xiamen City and Fujian Province from 26 October to 4 November 2012. You can download the proposed travel itinerary here (PDF, 3.2MB).

The purpose of the trip is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Wellington and Xiamen’s sister city relationship by enhancing people-to-people connections between citizens, and developing Wellingtonians’ understanding of Xiamen.

While this is a Wellington Citizen’s delegation, people from outside of the region are welcome to join the group as well.

The cost of the trip (including return international airfares, tours, meals, twin share accommodation and domestic transport in China) will be $2,995. This is based on a group size of 15.

Please email Mi Liqin, Secretary of the Wellington Xiamen Association with an expression of interest, or with any questions you have by Wednesday 12 September.

At the recent New Zealand Sister Cities conference, the Wellington Xiamen Association (WXA) won the education section of the prestigious Air New Zealand Sister Cities Award for 2012 for the Wellington-Xiamen Paediatric Project.

The Wellington-Xiamen Paediatric Project was initiated by Dr Thorsten Stanley, Consultant Paediatrician at Wellington Hospital (CCDHB) and Senior Lecturer at Otago University School (Wellington) after a visit to Xiamen in 2008.  Dr Stanley saw there could be benefits for both Wellington and Xiamen in an exchange of medical professionals between Wellington and Xiamen First Hospital.

The aim of the project is to share knowledge and skills in medical practice and research in the various fields of infant and child health. Drs Wang Lizhou and Wu Qin from Xiamen visited Wellington in 2009, Mr Li Nanzhu and Dr Liu Mingxue in 2010, and Drs Guo Qingqiang and Zhong Meizhen have recently returned to Xiamen after 10 weeks in Wellington. During their stay in Wellington, the doctors were attached to consultants at Wellington Hospital working in their areas of particular interest. They also attended lectures and seminars at Otago University (Wellington).  In 2011, Dr Stanley visited The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and gave lectures to doctors there. The exchange has also led to on-going collaborative research involving doctors in Wellington and Xiamen.

Drs Wu Jinzhun, Thorsten Stanley, and Sophia Hu at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University in 2011.

The Wellington-Xiamen Paediatric Project is a partnership between the Wellington Xiamen Association, Wellington Hospital, Otago University (Wellington) and the Wellington City Council. The Wellington Xiamen Association provided accommodation for the visiting doctors and arranged social events where they could meet local people. The 2012 doctors were guests of honour at a barbeque attended by the Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown.

The New Zealand Sister Cities Conference was attended by representatives from New Zealand cities and from their sister cities around the world and was addressed by His Excellency Xu Jianguo, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China. The Wellington Xiamen Association is very honoured to have received the Air New Zealand Sister Cities Award for 2012 for the Wellington-Xiamen Paediatric Project.

Mary Busch, WXA Education Coordinator addresses the 2012 NZ Sister Cities Conference.

WXA Secretary Liqin Mi and President Chris Lipscombe at the 2012 Air New Zealand Awards ceremony.

A three-member Xiamen Museum delegation headed by Ms. Zeng Ying, the Deputy Director of Xiamen Museum, arrived in Wellington on 25 April for a whistle-stop visit.

The main purpose of the visit was to further a potential working relationship between Xiamen Museum and Gibson Group on the design of a new permanent exhibition at Xiamen Museum.

During their short stay of two days, the two parties carried out two very productive and successful workshops, in which they deepened understanding of the project, shared many ideas and explored each other’s abilities and commonalities.

Left to right: David Crossan, Jerry Hewitt and Brett Tompkins from Gibson Group; Jianbiao Chen and Ying Zeng from Xiamen Museum

Gibson Group also helped arrange tours for the delegation to Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand and the Wellington City and Sea Museum, as well as meeting important personnel from both museums. During the tours, the Xiamen Museum delegation was able to discuss potential exhibition tours or exhibition exchanges to promote their ancient china pottery collection. There was also an opportunity to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Wellington and Xiamen with more culture exchanges between the two cities.

Left to right: Weibin Peng, Jianbiao Chen and Ying Zeng from Xiamen Museum; Ella Liao from Gibson Group

The visit was farewelled from Wellington with a dinner that was full of singing and laughter, attended by Wellington City Council International Relations Manager Tom Yuan, Wellington Xiamen Association President Chris Lipscombe, Vice President Janet Andrews and Secretary Liqin Mi, and co-hosted by WCC and WXA.

Dinner with the Xiamen delegation at the Yangtze Restaurant, 25 April 2012

The Gibson Group was delighted that the delegation had such a productive and fun visit, and they look forward to another successful visit to Xiamen by the Gibson Group CEO Victoria Spackman in June.

After a rather dismal summer, the autumn sun shone on the second annual Wellington-Xiamen Barbecue and the 70 members and guests gathered together to celebrate our 25th year as sister cities.

Visiting Xiamen doctors John Guo and May Zhong were special guests of honour at the barbeque.

A cup of specially imported Fujian tea greeted all comers, followed by a greeting from the Chairman Chris Lipscombe. Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, who headed a delegation to Xiamen last year and had very much enjoyed the experience, gave a short address.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown speaks at the WXA Annual Members' Barbeque, 14 April 2012. Photo by Simon Hoyle, Southlight.

Mayor Celia commented thoughtfully on the value of Wellington’s oldest sister-city relationship and the need to acknowledge China’s efforts to meet its huge environmental challenge alongside its rapid economic growth.

Vice Chair Janet Andrews then gave a brief overview, with slideshow, of the WXA art exchange that she has been part of over the past few years.

Elena’s distinctive violin performances, good food, Bill and Donas’ wonderful singing, a background of many different photos from Xiamen, a group photo shoot by Simon and lots of chat completed the scene.

Ben Chen and Elena perform a duet at the WXA Annual Members' Barbeque, 14 April 2012. Photo by Simon Hoyle, Southlight.

See you all next year!