A cultural exhibition sponsored by the New Zealand government opened here Tuesday to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand.

"New Zealand, New Thinking" China Exhibition tour, the first national exhibition organized by New Zealand in China, features the landscape, people and place on the Asia-Pacific rim, New Zealand diplomats said at a press conference Tuesday.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark made a live video speech and answered questions from journalists at the press conference.

Clark said China is extremely important to New Zealand.

"We hope the exhibition will give Chinese people a better understanding of New Zealand today and it is very appropriate that this exhibition is being held in this 35th anniversary year of diplomatic relations with China," said Clark.

The exhibition, to last until March 25 in Beijing, will include a panoramic film, images of the New Zealand landscape, interactive experiences demonstrating "green screen" technology which was used during filming of "The Lord of the Rings", a model produced by the award-winning Weta Workshop and information about the country's innovative and creative industries.

Two New Zealand performance groups will treat audiences to a high-energy percussion ensemble and traditional and contemporary Maori and Pacific Island music.

The two-month exhibition will tour Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, capital of central Hubei Province, and Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong Province.

China and New Zealand established diplomatic ties on December 22, 1972. New Zealand was the first western country to sign bilateral agreements, after China entered the World Trade Organization, to grant China full market economy status and to begin negotiating a free trade agreement with China.