On September 15th, the 8th International Urban Culture Forum 2026 – Exploring New Zealand and Connecting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area – was held at the Auckland International Arts Space. Over a hundred guests attended, representing the cultural, artistic, educational, overseas Chinese, industrial, and media sectors of both China and New Zealand. The theme of this year’s forum was “Multicultural Coexistence and Sustainable Urban Development,” and the guests engaged in a full day of discussions on the inheritance and development of urban culture, and how different civilizations can coexist and learn from each other.
Since its inception in 2018, the forum has been held in Asia in previous sessions, but this is the first time it has come to Oceania. For the forum, this represents a geographical leap; for cultural exchange between China and New Zealand, it also provides a new gathering occasion. On the same day, the China-New Zealand Art Exhibition, the International Masters Go Invitational Tournament, and the “Zong Sheng Wen Lin · Huan Yu He Nian – Zeng Xiaohui Calligraphy World Tour Exhibition” also opened in the same space. This group of calligraphy works based on famous quotes from Zengzi has previously been exhibited in Milan, the Netherlands, and London; this is their first time in the Southern Hemisphere. With the aroma of ink on one side and a Go board game on the other, coupled with live music and paintings, the entire space was lively yet elegant.
A song opens the curtain.
The forum was chaired by Julian Zhu, a member of the National Council of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association and Secretary-General of its Auckland branch. He began his remarks with a Maori “Kia Ora,” immediately bringing the New Zealand flavor to the scene.
Next, the forum’s theme song, “International Urban Culture Forum,” was played. The lyrics were written by the forum’s chairman, Zeng Xiaohui, and the music was composed by an Australian musician. Tenor Fang Binlin then took the stage and sang two songs. His rich, bright voice drew thunderous applause from the audience after each performance.
New Zealand’s renowned tenor Fang Binlin performed on stage.
Members of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association also presented their own performances: some played guitar, and everyone sang Maori songs together. On the same afternoon, Chinese songs and Maori folk songs rang out one after another, with different styles but equally sincere.
Members of the Auckland New Zealand-China Friendship Association performed Maori songs on stage.
Eight years from Shaoxing to Auckland
Professor Zeng Xiaohui, the forum’s initiator, delivered the first speech. He is currently the Chairman of the China Times Media Group, the Director of the Hong Kong Academy of Fine Arts and the Hong Kong Academy for Arts, and a doctoral supervisor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Professor Zeng Xiaohui began his speech with two Maori proverbs. One is “He waka eke noa,” meaning everyone is in the same boat, sharing both joys and sorrows. The other is about the “food basket”: everyone contributes their share so the whole community can thrive. He believes that the principles conveyed in these proverbs are precisely the multicultural coexistence that this forum aims to discuss. He also mentioned a famous quote by New Zealand writer Katherine Mansfield about “fear,” hoping that different cultures can have less reservations and more courage to open their hearts to each other.
The International Urban Culture Forum opened with a speech by Dr. Zeng Xiaohui, Chairman of the China Times Media Group.
Speaking about the forum itself, Professor Zeng Xiaohui recalled that the first forum was held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, and for the past eight years, the forum has consistently focused on urban culture. As a 73rd-generation descendant of Zengzi, he expressed his aspirations with the saying, “A scholar cannot lack ambition and perseverance, for his burden is heavy and his journey is long.” He also hoped that this gathering in New Zealand would be a new starting point, connecting the South Pacific and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and finding more opportunities for cooperation in areas such as culture and tourism, art, cultural and creative industries, and industry. In his closing remarks, he invited everyone to Hong Kong in mid-to-late October and Guangzhou at the end of December to continue participating in the subsequent sub-forums.
Mr. Zong Yuan, the executive chairman of this forum and founder of the Auckland International Art Space Museum, then delivered a speech. He thanked all parties for their support and participation, and also shared his experiences of traveling between China and New Zealand for art exchanges over the years, as well as what he hopes to continue doing.
In his address, Zong Yuan, the executive chairman of this forum and founder of the Auckland International Art Space Museum, thanked everyone for their support of the event and shared his long-term experience and aspirations in promoting Sino-Singaporean art exchanges.
Mr. Zong Yuan, the executive chairman of this forum and founder of the Auckland International Art Space Museum, then delivered a speech. He first thanked all parties for their support and trust in the forum, and then talked about his experience of traveling between China and New Zealand for art exchanges over the years. From initially bringing works by New Zealand artists to China for exhibitions to inviting Chinese artists to Auckland, he personally handled almost every step of the process, from communication and coordination to exhibition setup. He said that these things may seem trivial, but it is precisely through these concrete exhibitions that artists from both countries can get to know each other and audiences from both places can see each other’s works. He also hoped that this forum could broaden this path further, allowing art to continue to serve as the most direct bridge between China and New Zealand.
Leeann Wahanui Peters , Chair of the Auckland Chapter of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association, delivered a welcome speech.
Speech by Ms. Ding Mei, Justice of the Peace of New Zealand and Honorary Lifetime Chairperson of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association
Ms. Leeann Wahanui Peters, Chairperson of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association, and Ms. Ding Mei, Justice of the Peace in New Zealand, also spoke. Ms. Ding Mei is also the Honorary Life Chairperson of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association. Halfway through their speeches, the two guests took to the stage and taught the entire audience to pronounce “Kia Ora.” Everyone practiced along several times, eliciting continuous laughter from the audience.
Ren Jianguo, a renowned Australian entrepreneur and collector, delivered a speech.
Following this, collector Mr. Ren Jianguo took the stage to deliver a speech, sharing his collecting experiences and insights over the years, allowing the guests present to see the cultural heritage behind the artworks from the perspective of a collector.
Afterwards, everyone watched the forum’s annual review video together, reliving some scenes from previous years.
Ribbon-cutting ceremony: The forum officially opens.
After the speeches, Professor Zeng Xiaohui, Mr. Zong Yuan, Professor Dong Hedong, Mr. Zeng Guangchun, Ms. Li Yan, Ms. Ding Mei, and Mr. Huang Weizhang went on stage together to cut the ribbon. The ribbon was cut, and the host announced the official opening of the forum.
The choice of Auckland as the forum’s first stop in Oceania was no accident. The city itself is home to people from all over the world, where Maori culture, Pacific island culture, and immigrant cultures from various countries coexist. Discussing “multicultural coexistence” in such a city carries particular weight.
Awards Ceremony: Paying Tribute to Those Who Have Persisted in Their Work Over the Years
Each forum selects annual honors, and this year a total of eight awards were set up, covering aspects such as urban culture, international exchange, contributions of the Chinese community, China-Singapore friendship, and art exchange.
Mr. Huang Weizhang, President of the Federation of Chinese Associations in New Zealand, was awarded the “Outstanding Contribution Award for Chinese Immigrants in New Zealand”.
Ms. Li Yan, Chairperson of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association, was awarded the “International City Exchange and Cooperation Award”.
Mr. Zong Yuan, founder of the Auckland International Art Space Museum, was awarded the “Outstanding Contribution Award for New Zealand-China Art Exchange and Cooperation”.
Mr. Wang Taiming, President of the Hong Kong International Low Altitude Economy Association, was awarded the “International Urban Culture Contribution Award”.
Among the guests receiving awards at the event, Mr. Huang Weizhang, President of the Federation of Chinese Associations in New Zealand, received the “Outstanding Contribution Award for Chinese Immigrants in New Zealand,” and Ms. Li Yan received the “International City Exchange and Cooperation Award.” Mr. Zong Yuan received the “Outstanding Contribution Award for New Zealand-China Art Exchange and Cooperation,” which is an affirmation of his work in Sino-New Zealand art exchange over the years.
Mr. Wang Taiming received the “International Urban Cultural Contribution Award”. The other two recipients of the same award are Mr. Jiang Quanfu, the founding president of the Hong Kong Cross-Strait Hakka Association, and Mr. Zhou Yueping, the founder of the Canadian Collectors Association. Both will receive their awards at the Hong Kong sub-forum.
In addition, the late Mr. Mike Dawson, former national chairman of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association, was posthumously awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award for New Zealand-China Friendship Exchange,” which was accepted on his behalf by Ms. Ding Mei.
The most touching moment was the posthumous award. Mr. Mike Dawson, former National Chairman of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association, had passed away, and the forum posthumously awarded him the “Lifetime Achievement Award for New Zealand-China Friendship Exchange,” which was accepted on his behalf by Ms. Ding Mei. The applause in the audience lasted for a long time.
The New Zealand Go Academy was awarded the “Spark Cultural Heritage Award” in recognition of its long-term efforts to promote and preserve Go in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Chess Academy received the “Spark Cultural Heritage Award.” Over the years, the academy has been teaching and organizing Go tournaments in New Zealand, introducing the game to more locals.
Several other award recipients were unable to attend. The “Lifetime Achievement Award for Urban Culture” was presented to three distinguished guests: Professor He Xiangtao, an astronomer from Beijing Normal University; Mr. John Tsang, retired Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and Ms. He Xunyao, a Lingnan calligrapher and painter. All three sent letters of thanks and will receive their awards at the Hong Kong and Guangzhou forums. Mr. He Xiangdong, an artist and educator from Vancouver, and Mr. Yang Jihe from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London, received the “International Urban Elite Award” and will receive their awards at the Guangzhou forum.
The New Zealand branch of the China Times was established.
Another important event that day was the official unveiling of the New Zealand branch of the China Times Media Group. Professor Zeng Xiaohui and Mr. Zong Yuan jointly unveiled the red cloth on the plaque and presented the flag.
Professor Zeng Xiaohui and Mr. Zong Yuan jointly unveiled the plaque and presented the flag to the “China Times New Zealand Branch”.
The new bureau, located in Auckland, will cover New Zealand and the surrounding South Pacific region, focusing more on cultural, artistic, and social exchanges between the two countries . After the unveiling ceremony , guests on and off stage posed for a group photo, capturing the moment.
Seven speeches, seven perspectives
Before the speeches began, Mr. Zong Yuan introduced the theme of this forum. Afterwards, the seven guests took turns to the stage, each discussing exchanges .
Professor Dong Hedong of Qilu University of Technology delivered a keynote speech.
Professor Dong Hedong from Qilu University of Technology spoke on “Sino-Singapore Multicultural Coexistence: Building a Collaborative Mechanism for Artistic Exchange, Cultural Tourism Cooperation, and Educational Exchange,” focusing on how these areas can cooperate and form a long-term mechanism.
Mr. Wang Taiming, President of the Hong Kong International Low Altitude Economy Association, discussed how industrial development can be combined with urban culture and sustainable development, starting from the perspective of the low altitude economy. He also demonstrated related drone applications on site.
Mr. Wang Taiming’s topic was “Low-Altitude Economy Empowering Sustainable Urban Development in China and Singapore under a Multicultural Background.” It was somewhat but he spoke very concretely and even demonstrated a drone on site, prompting many people to take out their phones to film.
Mr. Julian Zhu, a member of the National Council of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association and Secretary-General of its Auckland branch, reviewed the contributions of Mr. Ding Daxiong, the former president of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association, to the cause of New Zealand-China friendship, and looked forward to the prospects for New Zealand-China friendly cooperation.
Host Julian Zhu spoke on behalf of Mr. Ding Daxiong’s family, with the title “A Friendly Envoy Across the Ocean, A Bridge of Friendship That Endures Through Time.” He recounted the many things Mr. Ding Daxiong did for the friendship between Singapore and China during his lifetime and also spoke about his hopes for the future.
Ms. Luo Zhengying, representing Huang Weizhang, President of the Federation of Chinese Associations in New Zealand, shared her insights on “The Contributions of the Chinese Community to New Zealand Society,” introducing the positive role of the Chinese community in New Zealand’s social development from the perspectives of the development and integration of the Chinese community.
Ms. Luo Zhengying spoke on behalf of President Huang Weizhang, focusing on the contributions of the Chinese community to New Zealand society. She recounted the development of the Chinese community, explaining how they integrated into the local community and participated in its social development.
Mr. Zong Yuan delivered a speech focusing on the significance and specific practices of Sino-Singaporean art exchanges.
Mr. Zong Yuan’s lecture focused on the significance and specific practices of Sino-New Zealand art exchange. He didn’t dwell on the theoretical level, but rather discussed the practical problems encountered by artists from both countries in collaboration, drawing on a series of exhibitions he had curated: how to transport works across borders, how to arrange exhibition dates, and how to accommodate different viewing habits. In his view, the most effective aspects of art exchange often lie not in grand pronouncements, but in these seemingly trivial details. He also mentioned that New Zealand artists are interested in China, and Chinese audiences are willing to learn about South Pacific art; what’s lacking is simply more opportunities for both sides to meet—and organizing exhibitions is the most direct way to create such opportunities.
Mr. Lin Huizeng, President of the New Zealand Chinese Writers Association, shared the current state of Chinese-language creative writing in New Zealand.
Mr. Lin Huizeng, President of the New Zealand Chinese Writers Association, introduced the current state of Chinese writing in New Zealand and the impact of these works on the local multiculturalism.
Mr. Evan Woodfield, Chairman of the New Zealand School of Art Alliance, introduces the development of contemporary art in New Zealand.
Finally, Mr. Evan Woodfield, Chairman of the New Zealand School of Art Alliance, took the stage. As a local artist, he introduced the development of contemporary art in New Zealand and spoke about the importance of Sino-New Zealand art exchanges in his view.
Dialogue: Nine guests on the same stage
Following the speeches, a dialogue session ensued. Nine guests— Zeng Xiaohui, Zong Yuan , Dong Hedong, Ding Mei, Wang Taiming, Huang Weizhang, Lin Huizeng, Ren Jianguo, and Evan Woodfield—sat around the stage to discuss the forum’s theme.
The nine speakers came from diverse backgrounds: artists, educators, industry professionals, and those who had long served the Chinese community. Their discussions naturally covered a wide range of issues: how to sustain artistic exchange, how to implement cultural and tourism cooperation, how to foster mutual learning in education, and what role the Chinese community could play. During the Q&A session, the audience eagerly raised their hands, and the discussion continued until the end of the session.
Calligraphy and Banners
Near the end, Professor Zeng Xiaohui presented his handwritten calligraphy works to the organizations and guests who supported the forum. Mr. Zong Yuan also prepared commemorative gifts to reciprocate. Mr. Li Kaixuan, President of the New Zealand Chess Academy, presented a banner to express his gratitude to the forum organizing committee for their support of Go promotion.
Professor Zeng Xiaohui presented calligraphy works to the institutions and guests who supported and contributed to this forum, expressing his appreciation for cultural exchange and friendship through traditional Chinese calligraphy.
Li Kaixuan, president of the New Zealand Chess Academy, presented a banner of appreciation to the forum organizing committee to thank all parties for their support in promoting Go culture and cultural exchanges between China and New Zealand.
Mr. Zong Yuan, founder and chairman of Auckland International Art Space, presented Mr. Huang Weizhang, president of the New Zealand Chinese Community Association, with a calligraphy work created by Ms. Fu Jinzhi.
Teachers Fu Jinzhi and Li Yongfei from the New Zealand Chinese Calligraphers Association created calligraphy works on site.
Postscript to the forum
On the eve of the forum’s opening, Mr. Zong Yuan hosted a banquet at his home for guests who had traveled from afar. That evening, everyone chatted and admired paintings amidst a room full of art collections, creating a relaxed atmosphere. Professor Zeng Xiaohui later wrote an article titled “A Gathering of Elegance in Auckland,” in which he recounted Mr. Zong Yuan’s experiences since arriving in New Zealand in 1997, as well as the exchange exhibitions he had curated since 2018, such as “The Poetic Land of the White Clouds” and “The Flying Kiwi,” noting that he had consistently used art as a bridge and exhibitions as a medium to facilitate exchanges between China and New Zealand over the years. This time, Mr. Zong Yuan also coordinated many specific tasks for the New Zealand main forum, from venue preparation and guest invitations to exhibition setup.
The Auckland leg of the forum has concluded, but the discussion continues. The Hong Kong session will take place from October 18th to 20th, followed by the Guangzhou session at the end of December. From Shaoxing to Auckland, and then to Hong Kong and Guangzhou, this dialogue about cities and culture will continue.
For Auckland International Art Space, it is both an honor and a responsibility to be the first stop for the forum in Oceania. We look forward to continuing to provide a place for artists, scholars, and friends from China and New Zealand to gather and exchange ideas in the days to come.
Event Highlights
