At the invitation of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shenyang Municipal People’s Government, Councillor Kevin Watkins of Hastings, New Zealand led a delegation to visit Shenyang from May 12th to 14th. Luo Lei, Deputy Secretary General of Shenyang Municipal People’s Government, held talks with Councillor Kevin Watkins and jointly signed an Agreement on the Establishment of Friendly and Cooperative Relations Between Shenyang City of the People's Republic of China and Hastings District of New Zealand. Both sides will establish and improve regular communication mechanism, strengthen multi-level exchanges among governments, enterprises and the public, deepen cooperation in various fields including economy and trade, agriculture, culture, tourism, education and youth, continuously consolidate the foundation for friendship between the two cities, enhance mutual understanding and trust, create a model of local exchanges and cooperation  and contribute local strength to promoting the healthy and stable development of relations between China and New Zealand.

During his stay in Shenyang, Councillor Watkins visited Shenyang Radio and TV Station Children's Choir and expressed gratitude to all the children who had participated in the "Lantern Festival" Painting Exhibition in Hastings. He presented a thank-you certificate signed by the Mayor of Hastings to each child and encouraged them to have dreams and a global perspective, embrace multi-culture with an open and inclusive attitude, and broaden international horizons through exchanges and mutual learning. At Shenyang Foreign Language School, Councillor Watkins gained a deep understanding of the school's history, characteristics and international exchange and cooperation. He introduced the rich educational resources, beautiful natural environment and inclusive multi-culture of Hastings and exchanged views on further strengthening cooperation in the field of education. Councillor Watkins also visited China Industrial Museum and Laobeishi, expressing deep admiration for the rich historical and industrial cultural heritage of Shenyang.

Hastings is located in the Hawkes Bay area on the North Island of New Zealand, with a population of approximately 93,000 and an area of 5,200 square kilometers. Over recent years, Shenyang and Hastings have carried out a series of diverse exchange activities in the fields such as culture and education, and achieved fruitful results. Shenyang and Hastings jointly signed Letter of Intent on the Establishment of Friendly and Cooperative Relations in 2023. The official signing of the agreement marks that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two cities have stepped up to a new stage with joint efforts to paint a brand-new picture of mutual benefit and win-win results.