NZ-China Friendship Association chair visits Beijing counterpart

Summary

Brett O'Riley, chair of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association, led a delegation to the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries on 24 June. Wang Yu, party secretary and executive vice-president of the Beijing association, met the delegation, and the two sides exchanged views on deepening people-to-people friendship and expanding practical cooperation. Wang congratulated O'Riley on his election as chair and praised his role in advancing New Zealand-China local exchanges.

He said the two associations have held seminars on municipal construction, cultural tourism and the digital economy in recent years, promoting exchanges between professionals and setting a benchmark for practical local cooperation. He said he looked forward to deeper collaboration in cultural exchange, youth friendship, trade and professional talent cooperation. O'Riley thanked the Beijing association for its long-standing support and reflected on his decades of involvement in New Zealand-China friendship.

He said 2027 marks the 100th anniversary of Rewi Alley's arrival in China and expressed hope for joint commemorative events with the Beijing association and other partners to carry forward the traditional friendship. He said he was willing to explore new avenues for practical cooperation. Vice-president Jiao Yutong also attended the meeting.

Commentary

The exchange between the New Zealand-China Friendship Association and the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries continues a long tradition of people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries. Rewi Alley, a symbolic figure in the bilateral relationship, offers New Zealand businesses a cultural narrative through the 100th anniversary of his arrival in China in 2027. For NZ small and medium-sized enterprises, such official friendly exchanges often pave the way for subsequent trade and economic cooperation, particularly in Beijing's priority areas such as the digital economy and cultural tourism, where NZ firms can watch for matchmaking opportunities arising from seminars and talent exchange programmes.

At the same time, people-to-people diplomacy led by Chinese local governments tends to focus on practical outcomes, so NZ companies need to assess whether they can offer differentiated value on specific issues such as municipal construction and professional services. The 2027 commemorative events may generate short-term demand in cultural tourism and conferences, but longer-term business opportunities will still depend on the actual implementation of the upgraded New Zealand-China free trade agreement.

Keywords: New Zealand-China Friendship Association, Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Brett O'Riley, Wang Yu, people-to-people friendship, Rewi Alley, 2027, local exchanges

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

6月24日，新西兰-中国友好协会主席欧百利（Brett O’Riley）一行拜会北京市人民对外友好协会。市对外友协党组书记、常务副会长王禹会见代表团，双方就深化两地民间友好、拓展务实合作深入交换意见。会见中，王禹首先祝贺欧百利当选新中友协主席，高度评价其在推动中新地方交往中发挥的积极作用。

他表示两会在过去的几年中，先后举办市政建设、文旅发展、数字经济研讨会，积极推动两国专业人才交流互鉴，为地方务实合作树立了标杆。期待未来与新中友协继续在人文交流、青少年友好、经贸及专业人才合作等领域深耕细作，携手为中新友好做出更大贡献。欧百利感谢市对外友协长期以来对新中友协的大力支持，回顾了自己半生投入新中友好事业的历程，并表示2027年适逢路易·艾黎来华100周年，希望届时与市对外友协等单位共同举办好系列纪念活动，赓续两国传统友谊，并愿积极探索拓宽务实合作的有效途径。

焦彧童副会长参加会见。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

新西兰-中国友好协会与北京市对外友协的互动，延续了中新民间外交的长期传统。路易·艾黎作为两国关系的标志性人物，其来华100周年纪念活动将为新西兰企业提供文化叙事的切入点。对NZ中小企业而言，此类官方友好往来往往为后续经贸合作铺路，尤其在数字经济、文旅等北京市重点领域，新西兰企业可关注相关研讨会和人才交流项目带来的对接机会。

同时，中国地方政府主导的民间外交更注重务实成果，NZ企业需评估自身能否在市政建设、专业服务等具体议题中提供差异化价值。2027年的纪念活动可能催生短期文旅和会展需求，但长期商业机会仍取决于中新自贸协定升级后的实际执行力度。

关键词: 新西兰-中国友好协会, 北京市人民对外友好协会, 欧百利, 王禹, 民间友好, 路易·艾黎, 2027年, 地方交往

Source: Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries