Gao Xiang (R), head of Shanghai's Jiading district, meets Dennis Weilmann, mayor of Germany's Wolfsburg city. [Photo/WeChat ID: sh-jiading]
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the friendship city relationship between the Jiading district of Shanghai and the city of Wolfsburg in Germany.
On Aug 30, Gao Xiang, head of Jiading, welcomed Wolfsburg Mayor Dennis Weilmann and his delegation to commemorate the milestone.
During the meeting, Gao highlighted Jiading's rich cultural heritage and its role as an international automotive hub. She reflected on the past decade of collaboration, noting the strong ties and enduring friendship that have developed between the two cities.
Gao expressed Jiading's desire to use the 10th anniversary as a new starting point for deepening cooperation in several key areas.
In the realm of cultural and educational exchanges, she called on their schools to collaborate on student and teacher exchanges as well as joint curriculum developments to create educational opportunities that foster lasting bonds between future generations.
In the area of urban development, leveraging Wolfsburg's expertise in smart city development and low-carbon communities, Jiading is eager to share its experiences with initiatives like the New City Green Ring Demonstration Area. Together, the aim is to jointly explore sustainable urban solutions in line with the "dual carbon" goals.
In terms of industrial advancement, focusing on sectors like next-generation vehicles and hydrogen energy, the cities plan to establish joint laboratories and incubation platforms to facilitate cross-border innovation.
Weilmann praised the deeper cooperation, particularly in education and the automotive industry, noting the mutual economic benefits.
He emphasized his desire to continue strengthening personal exchanges and expanding cultural interactions — especially in education, urban development and industry.
As Jiading and Wolfsburg celebrate a decade of friendship, both cities say they are committed to building on their shared achievements and exploring new avenues for cooperation.