A China-Germany forum on sister cities and provinces was held virtually on June 15. Convened under the theme of Green Development and Digitalization – New Dynamics of Cooperation, the forum brought together more than 300 participants across sectors, including representatives from sister states and cities.

Lin Songtian, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, emphasized that 103 pairs of sister provinces/states and cities have been established between the two countries since Wuhan and Duisburg became sister cities in 1982. He expressed the readiness to work with German counterparts to build more platforms for the friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between subnational governments, sister provinces/states and cities, and companies of the two countries.

Vice Governor Zhao Haishan highlighted Hubei’s commitment to a green path to development that prioritizes ecological conservation. He said, Hubei is ready to strengthen cooperation with German partners in new energy vehicles, emissions trading, organic agriculture, and electronic information.

Representative of Saxony state government Erik Kurzweil noted the sustained mutual learning and close collaboration between Saxony and Hubei since the two entered a twinning partnership and eyed future cooperation in developing new energy, cutting emissions, and tackling climate change.

The forum is one of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Germany.