New Zealand cultural delegation visits Beijing

A delegation of New Zealand scholars and artists are in Beijing to deepen cooperation with their Chinese counterparts.

The delegation, including staff of Massey University and filmmakers, visited the People's Liberation Army Academy of Art and the Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University, and signed memorandums of understanding with them to further exchanges.

On Thursday, the New Zealand guests were hosted by Peng Liyuan, president of the PLA Academy of Art, as well as China's First Lady. Peng introduced them to the art of Chinese calligraphy, and encouraged universities and art institutes in both China and New Zealand to strengthen exchanges and learn from each other.

The delegation also visited the China Scholarship Council, a non-profit organization affiliated to the Ministry of Education that provides financial assistance to Chinese wishing to study abroad and foreigners wishing to study in China.

Steve Maharey, vice-chancellor of Massey University, said in an interview on Thursday that his university is "seeing a very good relationship" with Chinese universities through programs of "exchanging students, exchanging staff, and working on areas of common interest".

The exchanges between Massey University and China enjoyed a landmark moment when China's First Lady Peng Liyuan visited the university in November 2014. In June 2015, a delegation, including staff of Massey University paid a visit to the PLA Academy of Art.

Claire Robinson, pro vice-chancellor of the university's College of Creative Arts, said her college is looking to tapping into cooperation with Chinese universities for creative solutions for world problems such as pollution and sustainability.

"The Chinese universities are very interested in what we have to offer, and we are very interested in what a bigger country and its universities have to offer so that we can work together to solve some big problems," she said.