Chinese Association for International Understanding

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Enhancing Understanding for Friendship and Win-win Cooperation


——A Reunion with an Old Friend of CAFIU Liu Kaiyang This April, I paid a visit to New Zealand as a member of the CAFIU delegation headed by Vice-President Ai Ping. One of the highlights of this successful visit was our reunion with an old friend of CAFIU. This friend is Mr. Lindsay Tisch, Assistant Speaker of New Zealand Parliament. When we entered the Parliament gate on the morning of April 13, Mr. Tisch gave us a warm welcome. The even-tempered and modest man looked more like a knowledgeable scholar. The diplomat from the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand who accompanied the delegation told us that Mr. Tisch had flew all the way from his constituency to Wellington to meet us as the Parliament was in recess. Upon walking into the conference room located in the Parliament building, Tisch told us that CAFIU was not new to him, because it was CAFIU that invited New Zealand National Party Delegation to visit China in 1991. As a member of that delegation, he was so deeply impressed by the visit that he showed us photos taken back then. His words reminded me of my experience of receiving that delegation. Two things impressed me most. Firstly, New Zealand friends back then were quite interested in China’s reform and opening-up, eager to know every aspect of China including politics, economy, social and cultural life. Secondly, they showed strong willingness to develop economic cooperation and trade between the two nations. I still remember vividly that Mr. Tisch and his New Zealand friends were excited to find New Zealand butter in the meals provided by Chinese airlines, believing China would provide a huge market for diary products of New Zealand. As the atmosphere became more and more active, I told Mr. Tisch that I was involved in the reception of the New Zealand National Party delegation and was so delighted to meet him again. He showed great happiness after hearing my words and said that among his five visits, the one in 1991 greatly enhanced his understanding about China. - Just as 24 years ago, Mr. Tisch still paid great attention to China’s development. He listened attentively when Mr. Ai Ping was talking about the 18th CPC Congress and the “Four Comprehensives” strategic layout and said he had witnessed the tremendous changes in China during the past two decades. Well acquainted with the status quo of the bilateral relationship, he said that it enjoys a sound momentum and he would be happy to see more exchanges and cooperation in trade, culture, education, tourism and people-to-people communication. After the meeting, He showed us around the Parliament building and told us interesting stories behind every room we entered in an objective and humorous manner. He sent us off outside the building after the “Parliament tour” and we thanked him for his gracious hospitality. We admired his efforts in advancing friendship between China and New Zealand. He, like many other wise New Zealanders, think positively of China’s development and believes the friendly relations between the two countries can bring about tangible benefits for both. Thanks to their contribution to the development of bilateral relations, China-New Zealand relations set many records in China’s relations with developed countries. China has become New Zealand’s largest trading partner and No. 1 source of foreign students, while New Zealand is the first developed country to sign and implement bilateral free trade agreement with China. Last year, President Xi paid a successful visit to New Zealand and the bilateral relations were upgraded to comprehensive strategic partnership. New Zealand is also the first developed country to join AIIB. In the process of building the comprehensive well-off society, it is all the more necessary for us to enhance international understanding and step up win-win cooperation with other countries. Only through that can we enjoy a peaceful and tranquil international environment and strive towards the realization of the Chinese dream.