New Zealand is looking to strengthen ties with China through international education collaboration, with the aim to enhance the development of a community with shared understanding and prepare students to thrive in an increasingly connected world, said a top university executive from New Zealand and member of the Prime Minister of New Zealand's official delegation to China.

Nic Smith, vice-chancellor of the Victoria University of Wellington, made the remarks on Wednesday in Shanghai, reaffirming the university's longstanding commitment to meaningful partnerships with its Chinese counterparts.

Ranking 244 in the QS World University Rankings 2025 with a rare 5+ star rating in the QS Stars rating system, the university's collaboration with Chinese institutions dates back to the 1980s, when it first signed an agreement with Xiamen University. Its Confucius Institute opened in 2010 and it also hosts the pre-eminent New Zealand Contemporary Chinese Research Centre.

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"In the last five years, we have collaborated with 259 Chinese institutions across a range of research topics, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University, Sichuan University, Zhengzhou University and Tsinghua University," said Smith.

He added that the university's collaboration with its Chinese counterparts will expand further. During his visit to China this week, the university is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fudan University in Shanghai to enhance research collaboration in areas including public health, well-being, life sciences, medical research and climate change, as well as three agreements with Chinese universities, namely Communication University of Zhejiang, Yantai University and Zhengzhou University.

"Victoria University of Wellington is proud of our deep and enduring partnerships with China's top institutions. These relationships — built on mutual respect, academic excellence, and shared aspirations — demonstrate our long-term commitment to collaboration, innovation, and student success," he said.

As the university renews and expands its partnerships with Chinese institutions, it will also launch new scholarships, programs and initiatives to support more Chinese students and strengthen bilateral connections.

As of this month, the university is home to 2,702 international students from 120 countries across the world, including 635 Chinese bachelor, master and PhD students in various fields such as commerce, science, communication, design, professional accounting and business, according to Smith.

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"International exchange and international students play an incredibly important role. The ability to understand different cultures, to identify opportunities for us to contribute to common problems but from different perspectives and different degrees of expertise is now more important than ever," said Smith.

He explained that common problems, such as how to have healthy societies, educating children to live successful lives and realize sustainable ways for living together, can only be solved through partnership, which can be built through common interests, diverse expertise as well as enriching exchanges.

"In the current world that we live in, we have a duty to support and nurture a shared understanding. New Zealand has a deserved reputation for being a place of belonging, safety and a place that includes people as part of a community. In a world that sometimes now is lacking tolerance, those are very important features that we value in our country and we'll continue to do so," he added.

Smith noted that further education cooperation between the two nations are expected in diverse sectors, such as international business, data science, computer science, artificial intelligence, design, architecture and film. Having directly supervised four Chinese PhD students, he was impressed by their talent, passion, hard work and agility.

With New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visiting China from Tuesday to Friday, Smith pointed out the nation's senior political leaders and the university are aligned in developing and deepening the education partnership between the two nations.

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"New Zealand deeply values its longstanding relationship with China, and we are proud to welcome Chinese students to our world-class institutions, where they gain not only academic knowledge but also the language and cultural skills to thrive in a global environment. We look forward to continuing to support Chinese learners on their journey and to strengthening the ties between our two countries through education provided by all of New Zealand's universities, including Victoria University of Wellington," said the prime minister.

In the global context of increasing uncertainties, Smith also highlighted the importance for governments and educational institutions to providing staff and students "a kind of certainty" to allow them to thrive and make big, bold and audacious actions.

"In New Zealand, we are very focused on providing that kind of stability and belonging to allow people to move forward. I am here and my Prime Minister is here to assure that young Chinese people will be welcomed and included in New Zealand … Together, we can prepare students to thrive as global citizens in an increasingly connected world," he said.