1、City Overview

Christchurch, also known as Christchurch, is located on the Canterbury Plain in the eastern part of the South Island of New Zealand. With an area of 1426 square kilometers, it is the largest city on the South Island. Due to the numerous parks and private gardens in the area, as well as the fact that every household has planted trees, Christchurch is known as the "City of Gardens".

About 1000 years ago, the Maori people began to settle here; Around 1840, Europeans began to enter the Canterbury Plain and gradually established cities. Christchurch became the earliest officially established city in New Zealand, with a current resident population of approximately 370,000.

2、Economic and industrial development

Economic industry: Christchurch is an important industrial and commercial center in New Zealand, as well as a hub for wool, beef, mutton, and agricultural products. It has factories in industries such as slaughter and freezing, wool spinning, sawmilling, electrical assembly, leather making, and clothing. The city also has certain advantages in software development, tourism, light industry design, electronics, and other fields.

Transportation: Littleton, located about 7 kilometers southeast of Christchurch, is a natural deep-water port and an important port in New Zealand. Its annual throughput ranks third in the country; Christchurch International Airport is the second largest airport in New Zealand, located only ten kilometers from the city center and capable of taking off and landing various large aircraft. Due to its proximity to the South Pole, Christchurch is known as the "Gateway to Antarctica" and the New Zealand government has established the "International Antarctic Centre" here.

Education and research: The city of Christchurch has multiple universities with a first-class research and development foundation. Canterbury University has a long history and strong disciplines such as engineering and business; Lincoln University is a nationally renowned agricultural and pastoral research center.

3、Highlights of Interactions with Shenzhen

In November 2014, the then mayor of Shenzhen, Xu Qin, led a delegation to visit Christchurch.

In March 2015, the then mayor of Christchurch, Lian Dazer, led a delegation to visit Shenzhen. During the visit, the two cities signed a friendly exchange and cooperation agreement.

In September 2015, the then Mayor of Shenzhen, Xu Qin, and the then Mayor of Christchurch, Lian Daze, jointly attended the first China New Zealand Mayors Forum held in Xiamen.

In May 2017, Duncan Sandeman, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Christchurch, attended the first Shenzhen International Friendship City Liaison Conference in Shenzhen.

In December 2017, the then Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen, Gao Libong, attended the second China New Zealand Mayors Forum held in Wellington, New Zealand, and had a cordial meeting with the then Mayor of Christchurch, Lian Daze, who also attended the forum.

In June 2018, the then Mayor of Christchurch, Lian Daze, visited Shenzhen.

From August 4th to 7th, 2024, Christchurch Mayor Phil Major led a delegation to visit Shenzhen and had a friendly meeting with Shenzhen Mayor Qin Weizhong.

City Link

Official website of the Christchurch government: https://ccc.govt.nz/