Christchurch - Wuhan Strategic Partnership

In June 2004, an Agreement on Establishing a Strategic Partnership was signed between the Mayors of Christchurch and Wuhan, China.

Christchurch's Mayor Garry Moore first led a delegation to Wuhan in 1999 during which a cooperation agreement was signed. He then led another delegation in June 2004 comprising 50 business, education, and local government leaders to further develop the foundations for a long term strategic partnership between our cities. On 04 April 2006, the relationship between Christhcurch and Wuhan was formalized when Garry Moore led a delegation of 18 people and signed the Friendship City Agreement with Mr Li Xiansheng, Mayor of Wuhan.

Delegates Meeting 2

Since New Zealand became the first country to officially recognize China as a free market economy and China’s subsequent accession to the WTO, international cooperation has been a major focus of the Chinese government.

China is now the second largest country in the world in terms of attracting foreign investment. Wuhan was approved by the Chinese government to be open to the outside world in 1992.

A number of delegations have been exchanged with Wuhan seeking cooperation agreements, relationships, and projects. Other major successful agreements include:

An Agreement on Establishing a Strategic Partnership was signed by both Mayors in June 2004
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC) and the deputy-Mayor of Wuhan in 2003
The CDC signed an agreement on cooperation with the Wuhan Economic Commission
An agreement on cooperation was signed between the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and the Wuhan Employers’ Chamber of Commerce
Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore signed an agreement with the Wuhan Science and Technology Bureau to develop joint efforts in an number of related areas
An agreement was made between the University of Canterbury’s Gateway Antarctica and the Antarctic program of Wuhan University
Lincoln University established a partnership with the Jiang Han University in Wuhan in 2003
Wuhan City cooperated successfully with the University of Canterbury training 23 young officials for 5 months in “WTO and Public Sector Management” in 2003
The New Zealand Education Exhibition was held in Wuhan in 1999 in cooperation with the Hubei Province Education Bureau
Wuhan Education Bureau and Christchurch College of Education signed a letter of intent to cooperate and undertake exchanges including a teacher training programme