Dragon spruce cements Chch-Gansu friendship

Press, 27 April 1984, Page 4

Dragon spruce cements Chch-Gansu friendship

Wgtn reporter A friendship protocol formalising the sister cityprovince relationship between Christchurch and Gansu province in China was signed by the Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, in China earlier this week. Sir Hamish and five councillors are visiting China to cement the relationship, which has been under discussion for some time. Governor Chen Guangyi signed on behalf of Gansu province. After the signing ceremony, Sir Hamish planted a dragon spruce tree and unveiled a commemorative plaque in Lanzhou’s Five

Spring Park, one of the famous spots in the province’s capital. The Premier of China, Zhao Ziyang, planted a ginkgo biloba tree in Christchurch last year as part of the now-formalised relationship. The two parties met later for the first of two formal meetings to discuss the shape of further co-opera-tion and exchanges between Gansu and Christchurch. From these talks it was clear that there existed good opportunities for cooperation in a wide range of fields, Sir Hamish said. Gansu was clearly placing some significance on possible exchanges in ani-

mal husbandry, pastoral technology, forestry, and culture, he said. Interest in co-operation on curbing air pollution, a problem both faced, was also raised, as were other spheres of mutual interest such as public health and education, he said. Perhaps the high point of the day had been reached when the delegation was trumpeted and drummed to a celebratory meeting by hundreds of colourfully clad “young pioneers.” Governor Chen traced the development of the Christ-church-Gansu link from the time Rewi Alley travelled to and worked in Shandan, Gansu, in the early 19405.