10 October 1997 Chinese Education Minister opens visit to New Zealand at Lincoln University

Lincoln University is first up on the list of official engagements in New Zealand for China's Minister of Education, Zhu Kaixuan, who opens a six day visit to the country this Labour Weekend.

Mr Zhu, who arrives in Christchurch from Sydney on Sunday 26 October, was born in Shanghai in 1932 and has been Minister of Education since 1993. He is a former lecturer and senior engineer at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

The delegation accompanying Mr Zhu on his New Zealand visit includes China's Director-General of Academic Degrees, Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Department of the State Education Council and the First Secretary (Education) of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Wellington.

At Lincoln University on Monday 27 October Mr Zhu and his party will have discussions with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Frank Wood, meet Chinese students and visit the University's Deer Unit. Lincoln has strong links with China with a number of postgraduate students from the Peoples Republic studying in land-­related areas and visits by staff to Chinese universities and institutes.

While in New Zealand, Mr Zhu will also visit Otago, Victoria and Auckland universities, meet Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Education Minister Wyatt Creech and have talks with Ministry of Education officials.

Mr Zhu departs New Zealand for Singapore on 31 October.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand

Peter Dwan, Director of Community Relations, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand