New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark extended warm
congratulations on the New Zealand-China Friendship Society's 50th
birthday and highly praised the Society for its contributions to
enhancing the friendship between the two peoples and two countries.
The prime minister's greetings were conveyed by Member of
Parliament Diaane Yates at the society's two-day birthday
celebration and its 2002 national conference ending in Hamilton
Sunday.
Yates said Prime Minister Clark has stressed that New Zealand
should develop "a strong and productive relationship" with its Asia
Pacific neighbors and supported the society's aims.
Prime Minister Clark hopes to see smooth and fast development of New Zealand-China
ties in all fields and has been grateful for what the Society
has done in the fields of politics, economy, culture education and
tourism, he added.
The celebration activities and the annual conference took place in
Hamilton, which is New Zealand's fourth largest city and also the
sister city of Wuxi in East China.
Mayor of Hamilton David Braithwaite opened the functions and said
this year sees two significant events in the New Zealand-China
ties: the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations and the 50th anniversary of the Society.
He
added strong relations between New Zealand and China are
flourishing and Hamilton is willing to further exchanges with Wuxi
and other parts of China in economy, culture, education and
tourism.
National President of the Society Bill Willmott made a work report.
In his report, Willmott said when the Society was first founded, it
was practically the only connection New Zealand had with China. The
Society founders were clearly focused on the explaining the Chinese
revolution to New Zealanders and working politically for diplomatic
relations between the two countries.
Half a century later, he added, extensive ties have been set up
between the two countries. In these circumstances, Willmott said,
the Society needs to "examine our place in the new pattern of New
Zealand-China relations.
"We must face the challenge of an aging and diminishing membership
by finding new ways of pursuing our aims, new activities that will
foster understanding and friendship between New Zealand and China
by attracting a younger and growing membership."
A
delegation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with
Foreign Countries led by Su Guang attended the functions.
Su
praised members of the Society for their devotion to the promotion
of relations between the two countries over the past 50 years.
Their perseverance, he said, has finally borne fruitful results. He
said that his organization will be happy to upgrade its cooperation
with the Society.
At
the conference, new national committee members were elected with
Robin Brown elected as national president to replace Bill
Willmott.
Brown told Xinhua that his immediate aim is to actively expand
contacts with the Chinese people.
"I'll do my best and I have the confidence to do the job well," he
said.
(Xinhua News
Agency June 24, 2002)