WELLINGTON, April 23 -- Students from earthquake- battered regions of China and New Zealand -- Sichuan and Canterbury -- are enriching each other's communities, Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Louise Upston said Thursday.

Upston's comments came in a published speech at the opening ceremony for the "Cultural China, Splendid Sichuan" exhibition at the Air Force Museum near Christchurch, the main seat of Canterbury, where 185 people died in the Feb. 22 quake in 2011.

"We both value the contribution international education makes to enrich the diversity of our respective communities. We also know that as the world becomes ever more inter-connected, learning about people from other cultures and environments is critical," Upston said.

"The benefits are plain to see. Education creates enduring people-to-people and cultural links. The relationships established through studying in another country can last a lifetime and even extend through generations."

The event marked the start of a three-day visit to Christchurch by representatives from Sichuan's provincial government, education, tourism and business circles.

It followed the visit to Sichuan in March led by Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel to build the relationship between the Sichuan Department of Education and Christchurch Educated Incorporated, representing 80 education providers, as well as hold discussions of mutual interest on earthquake recovery issues.