Rhine hub set to play bigger role in bilateral collaboration

Due to its extensive collaboration with China and its position of being an important transportation hub in Europe, Duisburg is poised to play a significant role in enhancing bilateral relations between China and Germany, the mayor of Duisburg said.

Duisburg Mayor Soren Link said Wuhan and Duisburg have had a long-term collaboration over the past four decades covering multiple areas such as culture, education and the economy.

"Our collaboration is concrete and measurable, with a foundation of mutual trust built between us," he said. "The high quality and efficiency of our partnership with China positioned us as a highly effective collaborator."

Moreover, the Port of Duisburg is the largest inland port in the world and has become the core of Europe's logistics hub, he added.

Link made a four-day visit to Wuhan in March, with a delegation of over 20 government and business representatives.

He said the Duisburg city government places great importance on cooperation with Wuhan and hopes to further enhance cooperation and explore potential projects for collaboration during his visit.

"Coming back feels like coming home again," he said. This is Link's fifth visit to the city.

In addition to engaging with their counterparts in Wuhan, his delegation took the opportunity to visit and gain insights into the latest advancements in Wuhan's smart logistics, observe the green and low-carbon evolution of the steel sector, and visit educational institutions to seek out possibilities for youth exchanges and collaborative efforts.

"My initial visit to Wuhan was in 2014, during which I perceived it as a city undergoing transformation, with numerous projects either being conceptualized or just beginning. However, Wuhan has experienced considerable developments since then, and I am pleased to have witnessed these great changes firsthand," Link told China Daily in Wuhan.

"Numerous envisioned projects at that time have now come to fruition, transforming Wuhan significantly and turning it into a hub for culture and tourism. Such transformation is enlightening for me; the resolve and rapidity with which China executes its plans is worth studying."