On November 9th and 10th, 2025, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the sister-city relationship, Yu Yuanhan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Huangshi Municipal Committee of Hubei Province and Minister of United Front Work, led a delegation from Huangshi to visit Nelson, New Zealand. Dr. Zhou Yafei, the president of the Hubei Economic, Trade and Cultural Association of New Zealand, represented the association to Nelson to assist with the reception and provide translation services.

Dr. Hon Nick Smith, the mayor of Nelson, along with leaders from the municipal government and the New China-Singapore Friendship Association, warmly welcomed the Huangshi delegation at the airport.

The delegation visited the Nelson Queen’s Garden and the Yellow Stone Garden. Both sides had a cordial and friendly discussion and exchange. The next day, representatives from the business and industrial sectors of both sides respectively introduced the local major industries, products, education and cultural tourism, and signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural tourism cooperation with the Nelson Regional Development Authority. The delegation from Huangshi also visited Marlborough Institute of Technology to discuss deepening exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in university cooperative education and sister high school education. Finally, a product exhibition and tasting event for Nelson and Huangshi was held, and both sides discussed the opportunities and prospects for deepening trade cooperation. The two-day event enabled efficient and practical exchanges between the enterprises and institutions of both sides.

Thirty years ago, the leaders of both sides, with their far-sightedness, sowed the seeds of friendship. Today, with the joint efforts of the leaders, citizens and friends of both places, the tree of friendship has grown into a towering tree with deep roots and luxuriant leaves. The visit of this delegation has promoted the exploration of new opportunities for cooperation in economy and trade, education, culture and tourism between the two sides, and opened up new ways of cooperation in fields such as science and technology, environment and sustainable development.

Click this link to view a video and photos