Mr. Riki Tau, Head of the local Hapu,

Mr. David Walker, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand,

Your Worship the Mayor Bob Parker,

Madam Tan Xiutian, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China to Christchurch,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to attend the opening of the Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch. I wish to thank you for joining us today. We are greatly honored by your presence.

First, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the NZ gov, Christchurch City Council and relevant departments, NZ friends from all walks of life and overseas Chinese in NZ for your great support and assistance in the preparatory work of the Consulate General. I would also like to thank the delegation from the Chinese Foreign Ministry for their efforts in accelerating the founding of the Consulate General in Christchurch as one of over 200 Chinese Diplomatic missions around the world.

Since China and NZ established diplomatic relations in 1972, with the joint efforts from both countries, we have made great advancement in friendly communication and pragmatic cooperation in political, economic, military, cultural and education areas. The Chinese consulate general in Christchurch is China’s second consulate general in NZ after the one in Auckland. Its opening results from the deepening all-round cooperative relations between our two countries and reflects that the Chinese gov attaches great importance and has firm confidence in developing friendly relations with NZ.

As the biggest city in the south island and also the hometown of Rewi Alley, a great NZ friend of the Chinese people, Christchurch has its unique tradition and advantage in developing friendly relations with China. I believe that the opening of the Chinese consulate general in Christchurch will definitely further promote the friendly exchanges and cooperation in economic, trade, technology, culture, education and tourism areas between China and New Zealand esp the south island of NZ. It will also play a positive role in helping the earthquake recovery work in Christchurch and provide better and more efficient consular service for NZ friends and overseas Chinese in NZ. I sincerely hope that everyone here will continue to support and assist the Consulate general’s work as before.

Finally, I wish the opening of the Chinese Consulate general in Christchurch a complete success.

Thanks!