A coastal province, Zhejiang is one of the smallest province-level areas of China, but it is also one of the most densely populated and affluent. The region is home to over 64.5 million residents, the 8th highest in China.
Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiangsu and Shanghai to the north, Anhui to the northwest, Jiangxi to the west and Fujian to the south.
It has been called 'the backbone of China' due to being a major driving force in the Chinese economy. It is one of the richest and most developed provinces in China. In 2022, its GDP was 1.15 trillion USD, about 6.42% of the country's GDP.
Zhejiang is also one of China's leading provinces in research and education.
How the relationship began
In 2012, Zhejiang Province and the Wellington region entered into a strategic economic partnership. The Governor of Zhejiang, Mr Xia Baolong, visited Wellington with a large business delegation to sign the agreement.
This partnership is a regional project, including Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt and Kapiti Coast. The agreement is focused on increasing opportunities for trade, study, cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between the regions.
Highlights
The partnership with Zhejiang Province remains strong and the focus is on creating tangible economic, cultural and educational opportunities from the relationship.
Some highlights include:
- visits by trade and business delegations
- mayoral and civic delegations
- children’s art exhibition
- cultural exhibitions.