On October 7, Minister Counsellor Xie Yongjun was invited to and delivered remarks at the Orientation of 2025 New Zealand-China Scientist Exchange Program hosted by Royal Society of NZ. 

On behalf of H.E. Ambassador Wang Xiaolong, Minister Counsellor Xie Yongjun expressed congratulations on the successful launch of the program. Minister Counsellor Xie noted that China has steadfastly promoted an innovation-driven high-quality development strategy, and set the clear goal of making China strong in science and technology by 2035. China has achieved remarkable progress in basic and cutting-edge research as well as strategic high technologies. Meanwhile, China upholds an open, inclusive approach, and integrates deeper into the global innovation network. China stands ready to collaborate with New Zealand and other countries to build an open, fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory international environment for scientific advancement, which helps address global challenges like climate change, food security, and energy security, so that science and technology can better serve humanity.

Mr. James Henry, acting CEO of the Royal Society, Dr. Brent Clothier, past President of Royal Society, Mr. Hugo Bussell, manager of MBIE’s International Science Partnerships, Chinese scientists, and representatives from New Zealand research institutions attended the orientation and delivered remarks. They spoke highly of bilateral sci-tech cooperation, expressed their hope of carrying forward the spirit of Rewi Alley's Gung Ho Movement, and conducting "Gung Ho-style" sci-tech cooperation between China and New Zealand in the new era, so as to promote social and economic development of the two countries as well as sci-tech progress around the world.