Chinese want Maoris

Press, 26 June 1978, Page 21

Chinese want Maoris

NZPA staff correspondent (graphic art. Arrangements Peking iwere being made for an jexhibition of Chinese “peaChinese officials hope it; santart” to go to New Zeawill be possible for a Maori m November or DecemMp C a e rt B of U Sino°New Zealand 1 J L was hoped a number of as part or »mo xew z.eaianu. the p ainters woa ’ !( j a b] e cultural exchange P ro 'ito travel with the exhibition, grammes. i j.| e p roS p ec t s f or culI Mr Tang Hung, of the i tural exchanges would be [China Friendship Society,[discussed each year between [said that the exhibition of[ o ffj c i a ] s o f the two coun--1 Maori artefacts now on touritries. in China had been well re- while ideas for future [ceiyed by the people of [bilateral exchanges of a culI China and he believed a j rural nature abound, sports [dance group would be wel- fixtures between teams and [corned. [individuals of the two counIn an interview, he said it I tries appear to have lapsed, might be possible for China [ln July, 1976, China abruptly to send to New Zealand a cancelled a scheduled baddrama group in exchange, or minton tour only days befor exchanges of photo-!fore matches were to be

played in New Zealand. The [reason given for the cancellation was the holding of All Black-Springbok rugby tests in South Africa. Since then there have been no sports exchanges between the two countries. Officials of both countries appear keen that they

should be resumed. They say that visits can be negotiated by national organisations in New Zealand, working through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Friendship Society. It is believed that the New Zealand Alpine Club has proposed a liaison with Chinese officials on the possibility of some joint climbing expeditions in the many mountainous areas of China.