Mr. Mike Arand, China Business Development Advisor of NZTE,

Mr. Andrew Pragnell, Manager of Sport New Zealand,

Mr. David Wong, Chairman of New Zealand China Chamber of Commerce,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening!

I would like to start by thanking Mr. Mike Arand for inviting me here tonight, enabling me to meet so many friends both from sports and business communities in New Zealand. My appreciation also goes to NZTE and Sport New Zealand, for hosting this event, together with New Zealand China trade association and New Zealand China Chamber of Commerce. For coming to this get-together, I did change my other schedule tonight which was planned long time ago, because I believe this event is of great significance and excitement. China and New Zealand Sports and business connection is a very creative and wonderful idea to promote the economic cooperation and people to people exchanges between our two countries and our two peoples. Over the past two years since my assumption as the Chinese consul general in Auckland, I have been constantly impressed and amazed by the creative and innovative capability of my Kiwi friends.

Today’s event also reflects the extensiveness and depth of our fast growing ties between our two countries and two peoples. It is another demonstration of the comprehensive cooperation between our two sides. As we all know that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between our countries and 90th anniversary of the arrival in China by Chinese people’s great New Zealand friend Mr. Rewi Alley. Over the past 45 years, the bilateral relationship has developed very quickly. The economic and trade cooperation has been serving the engine of this fast growing relationship .The trade was from 7 million New Zealand dollars in 1972 when the diplomatic relationship was established to last year’s 23 billion New Zealand dollars . Now both countries are working very hard to reach the goal of 30 billion New Zealand dollars by 2020 ,which was set by the leaders of both countries during President Xi Jingping’s visit by the end of 2014. I am confident through our joint efforts this goal will be reached on time. Today’s event of business and sports connection is another effort to reach that goal.

Tonight’s event is also an effort to construct one belt and one road between China and New Zealand. The business and sports connection creates another dimension to push forward the one belt and one road construction. One belt one road means a road of connectivity of policy, trade, financing, infrastructure and people to people exchanges. It is a road of connecting people together, enjoying different fine culture together. It is a road to tap the comparative economic advantage of our partners to achieve win-win results. I am very happy to inform my friends present here tonight that the one belt and one road construction in my consulate district have yielded many early harvest which have brought tangible benefit for our two peoples and two countries. Over the past two years, my colleagues and I have been working so hard to push forward the non-stop flights between major cities of China and Auckland. Now as many as 150 flights are back and forth from major cities of china and Auckland per week. Each flight generates 150 million US dollars to New Zealand per year according to Auckland airport authority. It not only greatly facilitates the communication of the peoples of both sides , but also generates more business opportunities for both sides . Auckland is likely to become the international airhub not only to south pacific islands but also to south America and north America. China also benefits from this fast growing non-stop flights, such as the fresh milk of Waikato New Zealand reaches the table of people in shanghai within 24 hours as the cow is milked .More than 400,000 travelors are coming to New Zealand to enjoy the unique beauty of New Zealand. Good relationship between our two countries is not only in the interest of both countries and both peoples, but also to the Asia pacific and the whole world.

I think we are faced with tremendous opportunities in our business ties and people to people communication, including sports as well. Our economy is highly complimentary with each other. Both of our economy maintains in a good shape of development. The 19th national party congress will convene in Beijing on 18th of Oct which will generate more opportunities for China’s development and more opportunities for the Sino-New Zealand relationship. In next five years china will import 8 trillion US dollars which will expand our import from New Zealand. Last year, China invested 3.95 billion us dollars overseas in sports and recreation. Thanks to the growing demand of import and tourists from China, New Zealand’s export and domestic consumption are greatly increased as well, serving two most important engines for New Zealand’s economic growth.

Tonight we are gathering here to get known to each other and to explore the opportunities for your business to become part of the story of New Zealand sporting success, All blacks, boating, sailing, golfing and many others, while creating business together. China is a powerhouse of sports. Both China and New Zealand have a lot to learn from each other, and a lot to cooperate no matter in area of sports itself or sports related business. I am confident that given the great passion for sports in both China and New Zealand, I believe the potential of this connection is unlimited.

Thank you so much for your efforts and creativity in promoting China New Zealand cooperation and communication!