Bank of China celebrates 10th anniversary of operation in New Zealand

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) — Bank of China celebrated ten years of operation in New Zealand with local business partners, clients and customers on Thursday.
The Bank of China (New Zealand) Limited was inaugurated on November 21, 2014, with the goal of facilitating trade, economic exchanges, and financial cooperation between China and New Zealand. The bank’s decade-long operation in New Zealand has made it one of the top banks in New Zealand’s local market.
Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaolong and New Zealand Minister for Trade, Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing, and Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs Todd McClay made a keynote speech at the ceremony.
Wang said the Bank of China New Zealand has actively served China-New Zealand cross-border business and financing in New Zealand.
“As one of the top ten banks in New Zealand in terms of asset size, it has made significant contributions to local economic and social development as well as our bilateral economic and trade cooperation,” said Wang.
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership”, said the Chinese ambassador. “A strong and mutually beneficiary economic relationship, the cooperation in the financial sector included, has been an important part of that partnership.”
McClay, for his part, echoed Wang’s speech in acknowledging Bank of China New Zealand’s 10-year growth and the 10th anniversary of the signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership between New Zealand and China.
He took the example of himself leading the largest-ever New Zealand trade delegation to the China International Import Expo in Shanghai this year, resulting in signing multiple trade agreements.
“This demonstrates the dynamic growth of our bilateral relationship,” said McClay.
Former Prime Minister John Key also delivered a video speech to the audience.
“I remember, as prime minister, when I went along to the official opening, how excited we all were. Over the last ten years, the Bank of China has become an integral part of the banking industry here in New Zealand, helping servicing clients across a huge range of areas including everyday New Zealanders and of course business in our primary sectors and manufacturing sectors and many others,” said Key.
Ge Haijiao, chairman of Bank of China Limited, said in a statement read by the Bank of China New Zealand’s Chief Executive Hu Beihai that the Bank of China New Zealand has committed itself to serving China’s high-level opening up and promoting trade and economic exchanges between the two countries through quality services to the local market and neighboring regions.
Its dedication to corporate social responsibilities has won the trust of both the public and private sectors, as well as the local community. With such trust, Bank of China New Zealand continuously expanded its business, steadily improved its operational efficiency, and became a symbol of China-New Zealand friendship, Ge said. ■