A founding ceremony for the China-New Zealand Culture Exchange Center was held in Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, on July 11. 

Former New Zealand prime minister John Key and Zhang Yu, president of the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand, jointly unveiled the nameplate of the center, witnessed by over 100 guests from China and New Zealand. 

The Shanxi Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand has been a vital platform for promoting cultural exchange, trade, social welfare, legal aid, and investment between New Zealand and Shanxi provincial authorities, and it has become an important means of mutual assistance and development. 

The center, initiated and established by the chamber, integrates cultural elements from New Zealand and Shanxi, allowing locals in Shanxi to experience the unique charm of New Zealand culture without leaving their homeland. 

John Key expressed that the center serves as a bridge for cultural exchange between China and New Zealand, symbolizing the confidence and determination of both sides to maintain bilateral harmony. It is also a platform for promoting art, education, and economic trade cooperation.