Members of a group that visited Shanghai late last month have lauded the trip as a valuable exercise, with Dunedin's sister-city link allowing dialogue with political figures Mayor Peter Chin said were the most important leaders in the city.
His views were backed up by representatives of the Otago Polytechnic, the University of Otago and Otago Chamber of Commerce, who accompanied Mr Chin on the trip to China.
Mr Chin said the party had three full days in the city and he had worked to reaffirm the sister-city relationship.
The "clout" that relationship allowed meant the city was able to support business relationships for Dunedin companies doing business in Shanghai.
Along with meetings with a variety of organisations, which included planning for Dunedin's involvement in the Shanghai Expo next year, there had been a formal meeting with the Mayor of Shanghai, Han Zheng, and a formal lunch with People's Congress chairman Liu Yungeng.
"They are the two most important leaders in Shanghai," Mr Chin said.
Otago Polytechnic marketing and business development manager Mike Waddell said the visit had helped continue a relationship with the Shanghai University of Engineering Science, and the polytechnic had, among other initiatives, followed business opportunities in Shanghai.
The university was planning to send between 20 and 30 students from Shanghai to the polytechnic for "a language and tourism experience", and was exploring the possibility of credits earned at Otago being accepted as part of the qualifications in China.
Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie said the relationships the city was building with "significant players" would help businesses interested in trading in the Chinese market.
University of Otago associate law professor Donna Buckingham said she met representatives from institutions, including the Bureau of Justice and the University of Political Science and Law, and there would be benefits for both staff and students at the law faculty.
