Chinese tade delegation focusing on trade with Gisborne

A TRADE delegation from the Chinese city of Tonghua is reaching out to the Gisborne wine industry and other businesses to create an economic relationship between the two cities.

Mayor Zhai and five other trade delegates met Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon and Gisborne District Council chief executive Lindsay McKenzie in Gisborne yesterday and will visit a variety of businesses over the next two days.

The visitors represent a city of 300,000 people and have great interest in tapping the expertise of Gisborne winemakers to help their own industry.

The proposed relationship would boost New Zealand’s wine industry, as China was one of the biggest wine markets in the world, said delegation spokesman Mr Nan Lin.

Mr Foon welcomed his visitors “from a long way” who had came to Tairawhiti.

“It is good to see new friends.”

Being a mayor of Chinese descent had helped attract the delegation to Gisborne, he said.

Mr Lin said the visitors wanted to get to know Mr Foon and Gisborne businesses “much better”.

Gisborne was a well-known wine producer in New Zealand.

Tonghua wanted to encourage production, exchange ideas and help both regions progress.

The city had great hopes for future development and co-operation with the Gisborne wine industry, particularly with white wine which was little known in China.

“We hope to produce wines with Gisborne and provide an opportunity for New Zealand wines in China,” said Mr Lin.

Tonghua is in the Jilin province, which has a population of 2.25 million people and is located on the North Korean border.

The economy is dominated by steel mills, production of medicines, agriculture, tourists, and has a fledgling wine industry.

Jilin has lakes and five ski fields and is the training base of the Chinese Olympic skiing team.

Mr Lin said the city, a 90-minute flight from Beijing, provided great views everywhere as it was located on a mountain.

Another tourist attraction was the archaeological remains of three ancient cities and 40 identified tombs of imperial and noble families, which had been declared a world heritage site.

Mr Foon said he was hopeful of a growing relationship between the two cities, which would provided a sustainable export link, more tourists and more contact.

He wants the delegation to “link” with a variety of businesses, including iwi-based businesses during their visit.

The visitors will spend four days in the country, but three of those days would be in Gisborne, he said.