On February 25, 2019, Ambassador Wu Xi was invited to attend the 2019 Chinese New Year Charity Gala hosted by the China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand (CCCNZ) and delivered a speech. Over 600 people attended the event, including the Minister for Regional Economic Development Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Ethnic Communities Hon Jenny Salesa, Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff, CCCNZ Chairman Wang Lei and representatives from the business community of China and New Zealand.
In her speech, Ambassador Wu noted that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and New Zealand, tremendous progress has been made in bilateral relations. The China–New Zealand relationship has been on the forefront of China's relations with developed countries. Economic and trade cooperation is the bedrock and propeller of the bilateral relations, and with highly complementary economies, cooperation between China and New Zealand has delivered tangible benefits to both sides. The journey of China-New Zealand relations proves that mutual benefit is the nature of our cooperation and mutual respect, the readiness to seek common ground while properly handle differences are the key to our success.
Ambassador Wu stressed that the world today is undergoing major development, transformation and adjustment. The trend toward multi-polarity and economic globalisation is deepening, and countries are increasingly interdependent. We are facing common challenges that no country can tackle alone. China and New Zealand are faced with similar challenges, such as the impact of new technologies on our economies. However, the advancement of new technologies also presents unprecedented opportunities for cooperation between the two countries. China and New Zealand should strengthen cooperation in frontier areas such as digital economy, artificial intelligence and automation to provide new impetus to economic development in both countries. New technologies should be the window for our cooperation instead of a barrier for collaboration.
Ambassador Wu stated that China will continue to carry out reform and expand opening up. One of the top priorities is to create a world-class business environment, providing a level playing field for all companies in China, both domestic and foreign, and allowing them to share the opportunities of China's growth. We hope that other countries will also provide a fair, open and transparent business environment for Chinese companies abroad. We also hope that the government and business community of the two countries could work together to further tap the potential for cooperation and advance China-New Zealand relations.
Through video message, New Zealand Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern extended her Spring Festival greetings to the participating guests and expressed her warm congratulations to the CCCNZ for hosting the Chinese New Year Charity Gala. She thanked the local Chinese community and Chinese enterprises for their significant contributions to the economic and social development of New Zealand.
Minister Shane Jones, Minister Jenny Salesa and Mayor Phil Goff also gave remarks, noting that China and New Zealand have enjoyed long-term good relations and achieved multiple ‘firsts’ in China’s relations with developed countries. The Chinese community is the fastest growing group in New Zealand, and Chinese entrepreneurs have been playing an increasingly important role in promoting business cooperation and strengthening cultural exchanges between the two countries. New Zealand and China should work together to meet challenges by expanding common interests and properly manage differences to achieve greater development in bilateral relations.
A charity auction was held at the Gala, and all proceeds raised will be donated to charitable organizations in New Zealand.