Dunedin is to to sign a new sister-city agreement this week with Shanghai which could bring enormous rewards.
A delegation leaves on Wednesday for China's commercial capital to renew the arrangement first signed in 1994.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the trip will take the growing interaction with Shanghai to a new level by agreeing to much more cooperation in the areas of education, tourism and business.
He said the sister city arrangement is a fantastic opportunity.
Mr Cull said he is not promising to return with a bag of gold, but the trip is a step in that direction.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie said every country in the world wants to deal with Shanghai, and the agreement gives Dunedin a direct line in.
The Dunedin Chinese Garden. Photo: RNZ
