On the evening of September 21, Yin Yong, Mayor of Beijing, met with Tory Whanau, Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand.

Yin expressed that China and New Zealand regard each other as important partners. During Prime Minister Hipkins' visit to China in June this year, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang held in-depth talks with the PM on China-New Zealand relations, as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern, and reached a broad consensus that will provide strategic guidance for the future development of China-New Zealand relations. Beijing is not only a culturally rich city with a time-honored history, but also a modern metropolis full of dynamism and vitality. Today, it is striving to establish itself as a first-class, harmonious, and livable city through high-level opening-up and a world-class business environment, thanks to the the "two zones" development. Since Beijing was twinned with Wellington in 2006, the two cities have maintained a strong partnership with fruitful results in areas such as economy, trade, tourism, education, and sports. Beijing is willing to work with Wellington to implement the consensus reached by the two leaders, and to carry out in-depth exchanges and cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, urban management, and sustainable development, so as to facilitate two-way investment, expand people-to-people exchanges, and make greater contributions to China-New Zealand relations.

Whanau hailed Beijing's urban construction and management, and emphasized that Wellington values the sister city relationship with Beijing, and is committed to enhancing exchanges and cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, education, culture and tourism, and green development, so as to advance the friendship between the two cities.

After the meeting, Yin and Whanau signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Beijing and Wellington.

Mu Peng, Secretary General of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, attended the meeting.

(Written by Yang Qi; Video by Chen Xing, Song Hengyu)