Improved trade between Germany and Chongqing targeted

Delegates attend the China (Chongqing)-Germany Economic and Trade Cooperation Dialogue on Friday in Dusseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany. (Photo by Zheng Wanyin/China Daily)

An economic and trade cooperation dialogue between Southwest China's Chongqing municipality and Germany was held on Friday in Dusseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany.

The event, which was hosted by the Chongqing Municipal People's Government, the government of Dusseldorf, and the Dusseldorf Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was attended by a delegation from Chongqing, along with leaders and representatives from leading German businesses, including chemical producer Evonik, industrial and consumer goods manufacturer Henkel, auto supplier Bosch, and insurance group ERGO.

Speaking at the event, Yuan Jiajun, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, who also led the delegation, said many major German companies have established offices in Chongqing or invested there, injecting momentum into the healthy and stable development of Sino-German relations.

For example, Yuan noted that Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing) Co Ltd, a joint venture between Bosch and Chongqing-based premium commercial vehicle manufacturer Qingling Motors, had manufactured hundreds of hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles that are currently operational along a hydrogen corridor spanning from Chongqing to Chengdu in neighboring Sichuan province.

Looking ahead, Yuan expressed hope that Chongqing and Dusseldorf can join hands to explore new opportunities for China-Germany cooperation and sister-city relations, especially in the field of intelligent new-energy vehicles, advanced materials, biomedicine, logistics, and urban renewal.

Chongqing and Dusseldorf were twinned in 2004.

Stephan Keller, the mayor of Dusseldorf, said the city is committed to encouraging more German enterprises to invest and do business in Chongqing, while continuously strengthening exchanges, mutual learning, and practical cooperation across various fields.

German business representatives also reaffirmed their commitment to the Chinese market and expressed their willingness to strengthen partnerships with their Chinese counterparts.

In recent years, economic cooperation and exchanges between Chongqing and Germany have continued to deepen.

According to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, direct investment from Germany in Chongqing reached 2.3 billion euros ($2.6 billion) in 2023.

To date, 94 German companies, including household names such as Siemens, have established a presence in the city in sectors including manufacturing, construction, trade, and finance.