新西兰高等教育部长访华：深化中新职业教育、科技创新与科研合作
2026年7月27日，新西兰高等教育部长兼科学、创新与技术部长彭妮·西蒙兹（Hon Penny Simmonds）启程访问中国北京、上海和广州，进一步深化中新两国在职业教育、国际教育、科技创新及科研领域的合作。
此次访问由11位新西兰理工学院（ITPs）高级管理人员陪同，旨在加强中新双边关系，推广新西兰作为中国学生留学首选目的地，并推动双方在科学研究和创新技术方面开展更深入合作。
访问期间，西蒙兹部长将与中国教育部部长怀进鹏举行会谈，并会见上海市政府教育部门官员，就职业教育合作、学生交流、院校合作及未来教育发展进行深入交流。
西蒙兹部长表示，职业教育一直是中新关系的重要组成部分，多年来双方建立了稳固而长久的合作伙伴关系。随着国际教育市场持续复苏，双方拥有进一步深化教育联系的广阔空间。
她指出，新西兰政府希望通过加强学生交流、扩大院校合作及提升国际教育吸引力，让更多中国学生选择赴新西兰学习，同时促进两国教育机构共同发展，实现互利共赢。
此次访华也是新西兰政府“Going for Growth（促进增长）”经济战略的重要组成部分。国际教育被视为推动经济增长的重要产业，而中国目前仍是新西兰最大的国际学生来源国，也是新西兰理工学院体系第二大国际学生来源市场。
在广州期间，代表团将参观中新生物医学与健康联合实验室（New Zealand–China Joint Laboratory for Biomedicine and Health），了解双方在生物医学研究方面取得的合作成果，包括癌症治疗技术等前沿科研项目。
此外，代表团还将访问小鹏汽车（XPeng）科技园，考察中国在新能源汽车、人工智能、自动驾驶及先进制造等领域如何将科研成果成功实现产业化，为中新科技创新合作探索更多机会。
根据行程安排，西蒙兹部长于7月26日离开新西兰，并将于7月31日结束访华返回新西兰。
分析人士认为，此次访问体现了新西兰政府高度重视中国作为教育、科技及创新合作伙伴的重要地位，也释放出继续深化中新教育交流、科研合作及国际学生往来的积极信号，对于推动两国教育和科技合作迈向更高水平具有积极意义。
Hon Penny Simmonds, Minister for Tertiary Education and Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, is travelling to the People’s Republic of China to visit Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, this week. Minister Simmonds will be accompanied by a delegation of 11 senior leaders of New Zealand institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs).
The visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations between New Zealand and China in the Tertiary Education, and Science, Innovation and Technology areas, to promote New Zealand as a destination of choice for Chinese students, and to visit technology and research sites in Southern China to promote scientific collaboration between New Zealand and China.
While in China, the Minister will meet with the Minister of Education of China, Mr Huai Jinpeng, as well as education officials of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.
“Vocational education is an important area of collaboration within the New Zealand-China relationship, built on enduring partnerships that have grown over the years,” says Minister Simmonds.
“Significant opportunities exist to strengthen educational connections between New Zealand and China and to increase the attractiveness of the New Zealand international education offering to Chinese students and agents.
“We’re deepening our education links through student exchanges, institutional partnerships, that benefit both countries, and I look forward to discussing what the future holds with my ministerial counterpart.
“I am looking forward to connecting with existing partners and exploring new avenues for education and science and innovation research cooperation between our countries,” Minister Simmonds says.
The visit supports the Government’s Going for Growth agenda to grow the value of international education and unleash growth and innovation in New Zealand. China is New Zealand’s largest source of international students and is the second largest source of international students for ITPs.
A visit to the New Zealand-China Joint Laboratory for Biomedicine and Health in Guangzhou will highlight our strong bilateral collaboration in biomedical research, including promising developments in cancer therapeutics. The visit to the XPeng Technology Park will showcase how China is translating research and innovation into commercial outcomes in areas such as electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and advanced manufacturing.
Minister Simmonds departed New Zealand on Sunday 26 July 2026 and will return on Friday 31 July 2026.
