Phil Mauger
To further bolster friendly relations between Christchurch and Shenzhen, Phil Mauger, mayor of New Zealand's second-largest city by urban area population, made his first official visit to Shenzhen from Sunday to yesterday as part of his two-week trip to China.
Shenzhen Mayor Qin Weizhong met with Mauger yesterday morning.
Mauger's visit to Shenzhen aimed to enhance mutual understanding and explore further cooperation in various fields, including trade, education, culture, tourism, and wetland protection.
Shenzhen and Christchurch formally established friendly exchange relations through an agreement in April 2015, sowing the seeds of friendship.
Since then, the two cities have maintained close contact. A testament to their growing bond, Christchurch joined the World Innovative Cities Cooperation Organization, an initiative led by Shenzhen, in September 2021.
Mauger highlighted the importance of face-to-face interactions during an interview with Shenzhen Daily, saying that "friendship is very strong, and it is so important to do face-to-face contact."
He marveled at Shenzhen's modernization achievements, particularly the prevalence of electric vehicles in the city center, which he believes would be beneficial for Christchurch.
"I have taken photos of small BYD buses because we need some of those in our city," Mauger said.
The mayor also highlighted the impending resumption of direct flights between Guangzhou and Christchurch by China Southern Airlines, expressing hope for similar direct connectivity between Shenzhen and Christchurch. This move, he believes, would facilitate easier travel for international students and promote a win-win situation for both countries.
Mauger was particularly impressed by Shenzhen's rapid development over the past 40 years and its world-class role in technology. He praised the professionalism and quality that Shenzhen companies offer.
"You guys are light years ahead of a lot of other places around the world. I've been blown away. In fact, you're just right at the cutting edge. It's fantastic," Mauger said.
He also commended the city's commitment to ecological preservation, especially after visiting the mangrove nature reserve and observing local conservation efforts.
Drawing parallels between Christchurch's identity as a garden city and Shenzhen's extensive urban greenery, Mauger noted, "If we're a garden city, you've got more trees. We've got it in the parks, but you have embraced it on the city streets, so it is outstanding. We should learn from what you have done."
Mauger concluded his visit with an optimistic outlook, expressing his eagerness to deepen the relationship with Shenzhen. "I really look forward to that because we really want to be involved with Shenzhen."