Shanghai and Hamburg Mark 40 Years of Friendship
Shanghai and Hamburg have celebrated 40 years of enduring partnership. The relationship has expanded from economic ties to encompass cultural and academic exchange.
The 40-year friendship between Shanghai, China, and Hamburg, Germany, was recently honored at a celebratory event in Hamburg. This partnership, which began with commercial links, has deepened over the decades to include extensive cultural and academic exchange.
The event featured a display of Shanghai's intangible cultural heritage, with officials from both cities highlighting the significance of their ties and future potential. Diego Hu, Vice President of Yuyuan Inc., pointed to the Hamburg replica of Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden as a cultural bridge, attracting around 200,000 visitors annually interested in learning about Chinese culture.
Stefan Matz, Director of International Investments for Hamburg Invest, described the relationship as an increasingly equal partnership. He noted that China is no longer solely learning from Western Europe, but that Hamburg and Germany are also gaining insights from China. Matz also highlighted that Hamburg has only eight friendship cities, underscoring the deep significance of the Shanghai connection for the city.
Corinna Nienstedt, Head of the State Office in the Senate Chancellery of Hamburg, emphasized how the strong bond between Hamburg and Shanghai has benefited broader relations between Germany and China. She indicated that the cities' strategic positions as gateways to their respective continents—Hamburg to the world and Shanghai to China—create a solid foundation for collaboration. Nienstedt also observed a significant shift in the relationship over the past 30 years, with discussions now occurring on an equal footing.