Visit to China as Chair of the Dunedin Shanghai Association

Thursday 7 July 2016

As the Chair of the Dunedin Shanghai Association, I went with the Delegation from the Dunedin City to Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Qingyuan from 14-24 June 2016. I attended the following with the delegation:

1. The launch of the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) Programme and Shanghai being the joint qualification run by the Shanghai Jiaotong University and the University of Otago.
2. Visited the Yu Garden with the Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull, Deputy Mayor Chris Staynes, and Chief Executive of the Dunedin City Council Sue Bidrose.
3. Visit Qingyuan City (near Guangzhou) and witnessed the MOU signing between the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce and the Otago Chamber of Commerce.
4. Lunch hosted by the Mayor of Shanghai Mr Yang Xiong for the delegation which was one of the most interesting lunches I have attended in my life.
5. Visited the headquarters of the China Southern Airline in Guangzhou to make a case for increasing flights to Christchurch.

It was a very educational experience for me as Chair of the Dunedin Shanghai Association. My presence has added to the delegation in showing how serious Dunedin’s commitment to the Dunedin and Shanghai relationship is. My presence in the Guangdong area reinforced Dunedin’s connection with the Guangdong heritage of NZ Chinese in Otago and potentially provides a pathway for more reciprocal trading business connections. Being able to speak Cantonese in Guangdong was helpful on an informal level.

I made specific connections in Shanghai, Qingyuan & Guangzhou which I intend to follow up. I also have made introductions for others in the delegations which hopefully will build further relationships for them.

I have also built friendships and relationships with other members of the delegation. It is always a Team effort promoting Dunedin, and that is what the Dunedin Shanghai Association is about.