On November 27, Counselor Tang Jun attended and delivered a speech at the graduation ceremony for the second cohort of the 2024 China-New Zealand “International Cooperation Training Program for Innovative Talents in Aged Care” at Whitireia and WelTec in New Zealand. Chief Executive of the institute Mark Oldershaw, Vice President of Hexi College Tang Zhiqiang, Vice President of Gansu Bailie Vocational College Zhang Jianhong, as well as eight Chinese tutors participating in the training program and several New Zealand mentors were present.

Counselor Tang Jun congratulated the teachers on successfully completing their training and expressed gratitude to Whitireia and WelTec for the thoughtful planning and dedication in organizing the program. She highlighted the program as a model of vocational education collaboration between China and New Zealand. She also expressed hope that both sides would keep expanding their collaboration, strengthen practical cooperation, and work together to advance teaching, research, and talent development. This would strengthen the foundation of cultural exchanges between the two countries and contribute to the sustained, healthy, and stable development of China-New Zealand friendly relations.

Tang Zhiqiang thanked the Chinese embassy and the New Zealand institute for their strong support and assistance in making the training program a success. He emphasized the college’s commitment to strengthening cooperation and exchanges in areas like faculty exchanges, student programs, joint postgraduate training, and research partnerships, with the goal of cultivating more globally minded and competitive talents. Mark Oldershaw commended the tutors for their dedication and accomplishments, highlighting the program as a vital link for nursing education exchanges between China and New Zealand. He expressed optimism about fostering deeper collaboration between institutions from both countries in teaching, research, and management. The participating teachers expressed their gratitude for the support and guidance they received throughout the program and reflected on the knowledge and insights gained during four months of coursework, professional practice, and cultural exchange. They emphasized their intention to bring these valuable experiences back to China to advance the development of aged care programs at their institutions, improve the quality of talent cultivation, and foster more diverse and meaningful collaboration with New Zealand. Additionally, they pledged to contribute to strengthening people-to-people exchanges and promoting the friendly ties between the two countries.