Confucius Institute to bridge for cultural exchanges between China, New Zealand

By Ming Jinwei, Huang Xingwei

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said Sunday that he hopes a newly opened Confucius Institute at Canterbury University will serve as a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and New Zealand.

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang speaks during the inauguration of Confucius Institute of University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, Nov. 1, 2009.(Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

Before the new Confucius Institute was opened Sunday, China had set up the first institute in New Zealand in 2007 in Oakland, the country's largest city.

New Zealand now hosts nearly 35,000 Chinese students, more than from any other country.

Li arrived in Christchurch, the largest city of New Zealand's South Island, earlier Sunday, starting a three-day official visit to the Pacific island nation.

China and New Zealand have enjoyed rapid development in bilateral relations in the past few years. The two countries have economies that are complimentary to each other's as China is strong in manufacturing while New Zealand is famous for its agricultural and dairy exports.

New Zealand was the first developed country to recognize China as a market economy. It was also the first developed country to sign and implement a free trade agreement with China.

Besides trade, China and New Zealand have also enjoyed steady growth in cultural and educational relations.