On the afternoon of June 14th (New Zealand time), the “China-New Zealand Education Development Forum” was successfully held in Auckland, New Zealand. The Ministries of Education of China and New Zealand jointly organized the forum. Premier Li Qiang and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins attended the closing ceremony and delivered speeches. Over 160 university presidents and representatives from educational institutions participated. President Song Wenlong of Northeast Forestry University was invited to the forum and delivered a speech. During the forum, in the presence of the Ministers of Education from both countries, President Song Wenlong and University of Auckland President Dawn Freshwater signed an inter-university cooperation memorandum, which was recognized as one of the critical outcomes of the forum.

Opening Ceremony of the “China-New Zealand Education Development Forum” 

Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony and co-hosted the forum with New Zealand’s Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, Penny Simmonds. Presidents from 11 Chinese universities and 8 New Zealand universities engaged in discussions on relevant topics. President Song Wenlong delivered a speech titled “Integration, Innovation, and Mutual Learning: Promoting Bilateral Exchange Between Chinese and New Zealand Students and Scholars to Enhance the Quality of High-Level Talent Training.” He highlighted the success of the joint educational institution established by Northeast Forestry University and the University of Auckland, Aulin College, which adheres to the principles of “integration, innovation, and mutual learning,” creating a diverse, international, and high-level educational model. The quality of student training has been widely recognized, making it one of the most successful cases of China-New Zealand education collaboration. President Song emphasized that the Aulin Joint Research Institute, established through this Sino-foreign cooperation, has laid a solid foundation for joint doctoral training and research collaboration. He was willing to deepen practical cooperation with the University of Auckland and other New Zealand universities in areas such as high-level talent training, high-level research platform construction, and overseas study centers, further advancing China-New Zealand education cooperation.

President Song Wenlong’s Speech at the “China-New Zealand Education Development Forum”

During the results announcement session, witnessed by Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng and New Zealand’s Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds, President Song Wenlong, and University of Auckland President Dawn Freshwater signed an inter-university cooperation memorandum. The two universities will conduct joint research and doctoral training in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, transportation engineering, computer science, data science, and ecology, paving the way for significant advancements in these fields.

President Song Wenlong and the University of Auckland President Dawn Freshwater Sign the Inter-University Cooperation Memorandum 

This forum has further consolidated and deepened the friendly relationship between NEFU and the University of Auckland, enhancing our school’s international influence. Northeast Forestry University is committed to seizing this opportunity to promote practical cooperation with the University of Auckland and other New Zealand universities, thereby ensuring the ongoing success of higher education cooperation between China and New Zealand.