Mayor Ying meets Dunedin mayor, top company execs

Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong met Dave Cull, mayor of Dunedin City, New Zealand, in Shanghai yesterday.

Shanghai and Dunedin have carried out all-round cooperation in the fields of education, business, scientific research, culture and art, and landscaping since the establishment of friendship city relationship 25 years ago, Ying said. “We wish to strengthen cooperation with Dunedin in many fields, including economy, trade, scientific innovation, cultural innovation and education, in the future,” he added.

The Dunedin Chinese Garden and Yu Garden in Shanghai are sister gardens, which is a symbol of friendship between the two cities, Cull noted. “We wish to carry out more win-win cooperation and contribute to the development of the relations between the two countries,” he said.

Andrew Robinson, New Zealand Consul-General in Shanghai, was also present at the meeting.

Also yesterday, Ying met Omar Ishrak, chairman and CEO of Medtronic Inc, and Thomas Buberl, CEO of AXA.

The mayor congratulated Medtronic on holding its global annual meeting in Shanghai and AXA on the 20th anniversary of the company’s operations in China.

Multinational companies can achieve greater development in the process of servicing the China market. Shanghai will provide a better business environment for all kinds of enterprises in the future, Ying said.

Medtronic has seen rapid development in China since entering the market 30 years ago, Ishrak noted. China will be the world’s largest medical market in the future, and Medtronic will continue to provide new techniques and solutions to Chinese patients as the company is confident about the potential of the Chinese market, he added.

Buberl said that the Chinese insurance market is full of opportunities and potential and AXA hopes to provide better services for Chinese consumers and make contributions in the construction of an international financial center in Shanghai.

Medtronic is the world’s leading provider of medical technology services, including cardiovascular, minimally invasive treatment, diabetes and restorative therapy. AXA Group is one of the world’s largest insurance groups. Its business scope includes property insurance, life insurance, savings, pension, health insurance, asset management, etc.