Premier Li urges more education cooperation between China, New Zealand

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday called for the educational communities of China and New Zealand to cooperate more closely while addressing the closing ceremony of the China-New Zealand Education Development Forum in Auckland with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

The new scientific and technological revolution is profoundly changing the way humans produce and live, and education is facing higher requirements in terms of reform and innovation, so the educational communities of China and New Zealand should cooperate more closely, Li said.

Universities in China and New Zealand have been playing an important role in promoting educational exchanges and cooperation, he noted.

It is hoped that both sides will promote high-level scientific research and talent cultivation in key areas for the future development of the two countries, he said.

Focusing on the common challenges faced by human society, both sides should strengthen collaborative research in areas such as climate change, green energy and health, and make more positive contributions to the sustainable development of both countries and the world, the premier said.

He called for carrying out more practical cooperation projects to benefit teachers and students, and enhancing mutual learning and understanding through friendly exchanges to promote people-to-people bonds.

In the next five years, China will provide New Zealand with 100 scholarships for international Chinese language teachers, 1,000 places for "Chinese Bridge" summer camps and 5,000 copies of Chinese language books, he announced.

China welcomes more young people from New Zealand to learn the Chinese language and culture, and supports more Chinese youth to study in and visit New Zealand to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries' young generations, he added.

Luxon said that long-term education cooperation between New Zealand and China is the focus of bilateral cooperation, which is conducive to enhancing mutual understanding and benefiting the people of both countries, adding that his country will continue to support deepening education cooperation.