City hosts Qingdao civic delegation
DUNEDIN has hosted its first Chinese delegation since Covid19 closed New Zealand’s borders.
After several years of staying connected remotely due to border closures, delegates from Dunedin’s Chinese Friendship City, Qingdao, finally continued their relationship face to face yesterday.
The Qingdao local government civic delegation comprised five people and was led by Qingdao municipal government deputy secretarygeneral Wang Dongxiang.
Yesterday, Qingdao Chamber of Commerce delegates met Business South members to sign a memorandum of understanding — the first chambertochamber memorandum between the two cities.
Enterprise Dunedin manager John Christie said the visit deepened the relationship between the two Friendship Cities, which began nearly a decade ago.
‘‘This visit is a great opportunity for Dunedin and Qingdao to reinforce the bond between the two cities, whether it be through collaboration in education, business, trade, sport or other areas.’’
The delegation also met
Southern Football management to discuss the possibility of mutual visits for sports teams and other cooperation before heading to Scott Technology, which had a plant in Qingdao, he said.
When the ‘‘friendship’’ began in 2013, Qingdao was seen as an important city for Dunedin to develop a relationship with because Haier, which had recently acquired Fisher & Paykel, had its head office in Qingdao.
It was also important because Scott Technology, one of Dunedin’s leading manufacturers, also had a plant in Qingdao province.