The first Hubei Provincial Calligraphy & Painting Exhibition drew to a close on 03 March 2006. The Exhibition was jointly organized by Christchurch Branch of New Zealand – China Friendship Society, Centre of Contemporary Arts, with the assistance from Canterbury Development Corporation and New Zealand Hubei Association, and the sponsorship from NZ-Asia Foundation and others. Mr Zeng Shimin and Mr You Zhonghui, President and Vice-President of Hubei Institute of Calligraphy & Painting respectively, and Ms Zhang Ying from Hubei Provincial Foreign Affairs Office delivered two seminars on Chinese Calligraphy and Painting, held 10 demonstrations to the local fans of Chinese fine arts. What is more impressive is their pains-taking effort to coach some 150-ish school kids hand by hand. It is a really impressive contribution to the publicity and understanding of Chinese culture overseas.

The Exhibition was  opened by His Worship Garry Moore on 15 February 2006, and lasted for 17 days with over 6,000 visitors. It has proved to be a great success in Christchurch.

On the evening of 11 Feb. 2006, Garry Moore and Canterbury Development Corporation invited some local Chinese representatives to a dinner to celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival. Over a glass of wine, all the participants talked about the cooperative ties with China in 2005, anticipating more exchanges in the year of 2006.

The Chinese attendees represented local Chinese media, local Chinese associations, and restaurants. Among them were also Larry Podmore and Eugene Feng from Canterbury Development Corporation.

Prof John Gibson from the College of Business and Economics in the University of Canterbury visited Zhongnan University of Economics & Law (ZUEL) in mid-November 2005 to follow up with the previous visit by Prof Nigel Healey. Prof Gibson had some seminars in ZUEL, and all of his lectures were well applauded.

In October 2005, Christchurch sent a delegation of 8 to visit Wuhan. The delegation comprises the representatives from Canterbury Development Corporation, Education Christchurch, University of Canterbury.

Professor Nigel Healey, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Business and Economics in the University of Canterbury (UC), Larry Podmore and Eugene Feng from Canterbury Development Corporation visited Zhongnan University of Economics & Law (ZUEL) to discuss the establishment of a partnership and some collaborated research programmes. It was a successful visit with both sides agreeing to continuing the dialogue and having the partnership set up in December 2005 when ZUEL delegation visits UC.

Professor Scot Davidson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Law in the University of Canterbury (UC), Mr Geoff Pearman, director of Continuing Education in UC, Marion McEwing, Manager of Bridging Programmes in UC, and Eugene Feng from Canterbury Development Corporation visited No. 1 Middle School Attached to Central China Normal University, Hongshan High School and the International Exchange College of Huazhong University of Science & Technology. The UC team held successful discussions with their Wuhan counterparts regarding setting up a joint programme for UC foundation studies.

The UC team also hosted a UC Wuhan Alumni dinner on 09 Oct 2005, over 30 representatives attended the function.

On 10 Oct. 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Education Christchurch and Wuhan Education Bureau regarding collaboration in the future in areas such as vocational training, student recruitment and mutual publicization. UC and Christchurch Polytechnic of Information Technology (CPIT) participated in the Education Expo in Shangri-La Hotel.

Larry Podmore, on behalf of the Mayor of Christchurch, participated in the 5th Asia-Pacific Cities Summit (APCS) in Chongqing from 11 to 14 Oct. 2005.

In mid Oct. 2005, Stuart McKenzie, General Partner from Endeavour Capital, paid a one-week visit to Wuhan Huagong Venture Capital Co. Ltd. (HUSTVC), together with Larry Podmore and Eugene Feng. Both sides reached a better understanding of mutual interests and needs and identified a number of projects for future cooperation. It was agreed that the dialogue continues and HUSTVC will visit Christchurch soon.

Also in Oct. 2005, Professor Jin Hai, a well-renowned grid computer scientist and dean of College of Computer Science & Technology in Huzhong University of Science & Technology, visited University of Canterbury for the second time in the same year, and his seminar was well applauded. Ms Xie Xia from his college stayed behind for a month’s work in the College of Engineering in University of Canterbury at the invitation of Prof Peter Jackson, Pro-Vice-chancellor and Dean of College of Engineering. Ms Xie met with almost all the interested scholars in the College and identified specific areas of collaboration in the future for the two colleges.

Christchurch College of Education (CCE) has successfully applied for an Innovative Project from New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE), in order to enhance its training projects for China. As part of the project, CCE Project Steering Committee sent Lester Davison and Eugene Feng to Wuhan and Beijing, China in mid-June 2005 to gather feedback and comments from the former trainees (principals from secondary and primary schools, education administrators and teachers). The project is underway and is expected to finish at the end of 2005.

Eugene Feng also visited:

1. Wuhan Foreign Affairs Office regarding the visit of Christchurch City Delegation scheduled in Oct 2005;
2. Hubei Provincial Foreign Affairs Office and Hubei Provincial Friendship Society  regarding Hubei Calligraphy Exhibit to be held in Christchurch in Feb. 2006;
3. Zhongnan University of Economics & Law (ZUEL) regarding a possible partnership between College of Business and Economics in the University of Canterbury (UC) ZUEL, and collaborated research in business management, WTO issues and economics.