A platform for educational cooperation between China and New Zealand has been established to promote cultural exchanges and people-to-people bonds. On November 13, the preparatory meeting of the China-New Zealand Vocational Education Development Alliance (referred to as "the Alliance") was held at Chengdu University (CDU).

The meeting aimed to implement the arrangement on education and training between the Chinese Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Ministry of Education and the spirit of the China-New Zealand Educational Consultation Mechanism meetings. Its purpose was to build a platform for vocational education cooperation between China and New Zealand, to continuously promote vocational education cooperation and cultural exchanges and to facilitate the mutual understanding between the two countries. Through friendly negotiation, the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange (CCIPE) and Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (Te Pūkenga) initiated the establishment of the Alliance and held a preparatory meeting. The meeting was hosted by the CCIPE and Te Pūkenga, and organized by the Chengdu Municipal Education Bureau and CDU.

Speech by Peter Winde

Speech by Xia Juan, Deputy Director of the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange, Ministry of Education

Speech by Michael Zhang , Regional Director Greater China at Education New Zealand

A group of distinguished guests attended the meeting, including Peter Winder, Chief Executive of Te Pūkenga, Andrew McSweeney and Paora Ammunson, Deputy Chief Executives of Te Pūkenga, Xia Juan and Cao Diefeng, Deputy Directors of CCIPE, Zhu Chaohua, Director General Level Official of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Wang Renxiang, Deputy Director General of the Department of Education of Hunan Province, He Rong, Deputy Director General Level Official of Chengdu Municipal Education Bureau, and Sui Shiyu, Director of Office of International Exchange and Cooperation at Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau. Heads of 12 higher vocational colleges, including Shenzhen Polytechnic University, Zhejiang Technical Institute of Economics, and Qingdao Technical College, also attended the meeting. Michael Zhang, Regional Director Greater China at Education New Zealand attended the meeting online. CDU President Wang Qingyuan attended the meeting and delivered a speech. The meeting was chaired by Cao Diefeng, Paora Ammunson, and CDU Vice President Peng Xiaolin.

In his opening remarks, Wang Qingyuan stressed that the cooperation and exchange between CDU and New Zealand represent a significant chapter in the advancement of CDU's internationalization strategy. He introduced in detail the important achievements of cooperation and exchanges between the two sides. Since the signing of the memorandums of understanding with Te Pūkenga and the Waikato Institute of Technology in 2008, both sides have carried out multi-level and all-round cooperation. Over the past 15 years, more than 400 teachers and students have engaged in cooperation and exchanges. A total of 11 New Zealand students have won the New Zealand's Prime Minister's Scholarship for Asia (PMSA) and the Chengdu Government Scholarship for International Students from Sister Cities to study and exchange at CDU. Over the past decade, the Sino-foreign joint programs have trained nearly 1,700 students, who are actively engaged in art design, radio, film, and television production in China and New Zealand. The successful cooperation between the two universities, Chengdu and Hamilton in New Zealand became sister cities. The visit of Sir John Phillip Key, then Prime Minister of New Zealand, to Chengdu vividly exemplified the crucial role of educational cooperation in enhancing cultural exchanges and people-to-people bonds. Wang Qingyuan said that New Zealand, with its rich experience and advanced concepts in vocational education and training, is an ideal partner for the reform and development of vocational education and training in China. He believed that the establishment of the Alliance could open up broader prospects and facilitate more fruitful cooperation in vocational education between China and New Zealand.

At the opening ceremony, Peter Winder said in his speech that this meeting is a milestone for vocational education cooperation between New Zealand and China, which will further deepen cultural exchanges and educational cooperation between New Zealand and China. In her speech, Xia Juan reviewed the origins of the ideas behind the establishment of the Alliance and presented the future work direction of the Alliance. She mentioned that the two sides will fully leverage the Alliance to coordinate the high-quality resources and professional forces in relevant regions and schools and actively implement pragmatic cooperation, thereby contributing to the China-New Zealand educational exchanges and international cooperation.

Speeches by Richard Kyle, Business Development Manager at Education New Zealand(upper left)

 Andrew McSweeney, Deputy Chief Executivesof Te Pūkenga(upper right)

Paora Ammunson, Deputy Chief Executive of Te Pūkenga(bottom left)

Peter Richardson, Head of International at Te Pūkenga(bottom right)

Presentation by Major Heads from Te Pūkenga

In the subsequent working meeting, guests from Te Pūkenga introduced the university. Hamish Miller, Head of the New Energy Vehicle Department, Peter Blakeway, Head of the Tourism, Hospitality, and Service Department, Judith Honeyfield, Head of the Department of Eldercare, and Dell Raerino, Head of the Preschool Education Department focused on their major design and prospects for cooperation between New Zealand and China respectively.

Speeches by Zhu Chaohua, Director General Level Official of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province (upper left)

 Wang Renxiang, Deputy Director General of the Department of Education of Hunan Province (upper right)

 He Rong, Deputy Director General Level Official of Chengdu Municipal Education Bureau (bottom left)

Sui Shiyu, Director of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation at Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau (bottom right)

Speeches by Li Yue, Vice President of Shenzhen Polytechnic University (online, upper left)

Li Xuetai, President of Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College (upper right),

Qin Qingsong, President of Qingdao Technical College (bottom left)

 Shao Qingxiang, President of Zhejiang Technical Institute of Economics (bottom middle)

Li Min, Dean of the College of Teachers of Chengdu University (bottom right)

Guests from the Departments of Education in Guangdong Province and Hunan Province, Chengdu Municipal Education Bureau, and Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau exchanged views with guests from Te Pūkenga on local educational resources, China-New Zealand cooperation foundation, and future exchange direction. Shao Qingxiang, President of Zhejiang Technical Institute of Economics, Qin Qingsong, President of Qingdao Technical College, Li Xuetai, President of Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Li Yue, Vice President of Shenzhen Polytechnic University, and Li Min, Dean of the College of Teachers of CDU introduced the initial exchanges between their colleges and universities and New Zealand's counterparts. They also emphasized the unique advantages and characteristics of their respective institutions. They expressed their commitment to strengthening cooperation with New Zealand's counterparts in areas such as cross-border supply chain and e-commerce, tourism and pan-service sector, modern agriculture and animal husbandry, new energy vehicles, and preschool education. The exchange and cooperation will be facilitated through initiatives such as teacher and student exchange, mutual recognition of credits, and mutual selection of courses.

Speeches by Yang Cheng, Secretary of the Party Committee of Bailie Vocational College (left)

Yuan Rong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Mianyang Polytechnic (upper right)

 Xing Kunlun, Vice President of Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering (bottom right)

Representatives of specially invited universities and colleges, including Yang Cheng, Secretary of the Party Committee of Bailie Vocational College, Yuan Rong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Mianyang Polytechnic, and Xing Kunlun, Vice President of Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering, said that they expressed their intention to leverage the platform role of the Alliance to align with the international cooperation direction of their colleges. They aim to actively participate in relevant subcommittees, establish a mechanism for hosting vocational education forums between China and New Zealand, and enhance the influence of the Alliance.

Concluding remarks by Andrew McSweeney, Deputy Chief Executive of Te Pūkenga

Concluding remarks by Cao Diefeng, Deputy Director of the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange, Ministry of Education

Andrew McSweeney and Cao Diefeng made concluding remarks, fully affirming the meticulous preparation of the participating units for the establishment and future endeavors of the Alliance. Cao Diefeng said that the Alliance will be grounded in pragmatic cooperation, implement a subcommittee responsibility system and harness the full potential of various special committees. Its primary focus is to benefit the member institutions and establish itself as a sustainable platform for educational and cultural exchanges.

Group Photo of Representatives

Relevant heads of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, the Academic Affairs Office, and the College of Teachers attended the meeting.