**: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand**.
On February 20th, Counselor Dong Zhixue attended the Spring Festival activities of the Chinese Association in Rotorua and the 4th Inaugural Dinner of the Chinese Association and delivered a speech. Rotorua Deputy Mayor Sandra Kay Von, Māori Cultural Ambassador Trevor Maxwell, Multicultural Committee Chairman Margaret Zerong, and Municipal Police Chief Hebby Navica were among the participants. New Zealand's Minister Todd McClay, National Party MP Lu Nan, and Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell participated in the event.
On behalf of Ambassador Wang Xiaolong, the representative of the Board of Directors, he sent sincere New Year greetings to the guests, congratulated the newly elected president, vice president and members of the Chinese Association, and expressed his gratitude to the overseas Chinese in Rotorua for their long-term efforts and contributions to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. He said that this year is the Year of the Dragon, and the dragon represents the spirit of self-improvement and pioneering spirit in traditional Chinese culture, which contains the bearing of harmony and symbiosis, beauty and beauty, and symbolizes auspiciousness, wisdom and strength. In the new year, China and New Zealand will usher in the important milestone of the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership, and it is hoped that the two countries will continue to carry forward the spirit of "striving to be the first", enhance exchanges and mutual learning with the momentum of the dragon and tiger, and push the bilateral relations to a higher level for the benefit of the two peoples.
Performers present traditional lion dances, songs, dances and more. More than 130 people from multiple ethnic groups in Rotorua participated in the event.