On 16 April, Confucius Institute at University of Canterbury (CIUC) welcomes the Deputy Mayor of Wuhan Madam Liu Yingzi who had a talk with the language teachers and students here. 

Liu told the attendants that as alumni of HUST, the co-founder of CIUC, she felt very proud and had a strong impression of the positive contribution of UIUC to the development of a friendly relationship between the two cities.

“Through your teaching of Chinese language and organizing all sorts of cultural events, you actually have planted seeds of friendship in the hearts of NZ people. The relationship between the two countries has always been based on the people-to-people exchange and all of you are culture diplomats in that sense.”

CIUC Deputy Director Jiang Jing made a brief introduction of CIUC.

Madam Liu was in Christchurch to attend an opening ceremony of “Chinese Painting in Oceania” Art Exhibition which was co-organized by NZ Hubei Trade, Economy & Culture Association and CIUC. The exhibition was the first of a series of events in celebration of Wuhan and Christchurch sister cities relationship.