China swap for students

Plans for the development of a high-class Chinese restaurant and a student exchange to China for Otago Polytechnic chef students in Central Otago are set to begin before the end of the year.

Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson said both ideas were discussed with Chinese representatives at a three-day conference for international mayors he attended in the Chinese province of Henan last month.

Students would travel to China to study Chinese cuisine and four Chinese chefs would come to New Zealand to help open the restaurant, which would be located in Alexandra.

A teacher exchange programme had also been discussed.

Otago Polytechnic Cromwell campus manager Jean Tilleyshort said the increase in tourism to China meant the country was trying to improve hospitality standards to reach western levels.

The links Mr Macpherson had within China had been an advantage to the development, Mrs Tilleyshort said.

Mr Macpherson spent 10 days in China.

Strong relationships were important to have with China, and as the Prime Minister John Key pointed out earlier this year, it was China that got us through the recession, Mr Macpherson said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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