On the afternoon of September 29, Mayor Chen Jining met with Henriette Reker, Mayor of Cologne, via virtual link.

Chen introduced the latest social and economic developments in Beijing. Chen said, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Germany, as well as the 35th anniversary of the establishment of relationship between Beijing and Cologne as sister cities. During the past 35 years, the cooperation between the two cities has witnessed fruitful results and has deepened our friendship, setting an example for the city-to-city cooperation between China and Germany.

Cologne, as one of the manufacturing centers of Germany, gathers a number of renowned manufacturing enterprises and hidden champions. Beijing hosts China's first pilot demonstration area of economic and technological cooperation between China and Germany, providing an enabling environment for German enterprises to innovate and grow. Beijing and Cologne have a lot in common in objectives and visions for urban development, which provides favourable conditions and broad prospects for deepening practical cooperation with mutual benefits.

Beijing is ready to expand communications and cooperation with Cologne. It hopes to enhance exchanges and mutual learning in areas such as urban planning and construction, coping with climate change, initiatives to reach peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality, the rehabilitation of old towns, and improving public services. Beijing will advance the implementation of hydrogen energy cooperation project, and see that more cooperation projects in trade and technology will be launched. Beijing also wants to deepen cooperation with Cologne in fields of culture, art and vocational training, to strengthen the people-to-people exchanges and to cement social foundation for friendship, so that our bilateral relations will be advanced to a higher level.

Reker spoke highly of the relationship with Beijing as sister cities during the past 35 years, and expressed that Cologne is ready to join hands with Beijing to deepen cooperation in urban management, technological innovation, low-carbon development and environmental protection, to make the bilateral relations more friendly and the two cities work more closely.

Chen and Reker witnessed together the online signing of the letter of intent for cooperation by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Coordinated Administrative Law Enforcement for Urban Management and the Department of Public Order (Amt für öffentliche Ordnung) of Cologne, as well as the signing of a memorandum of cooperation among related enterprises.

(Written by: Yang Qi)