Recently, sponsored by the Information Office of the People’s Government of Qingdao, the A gateway to the world （Ein Tor zur Welt : Qingdaos Aufstieg aus persönlicher Sicht in Germany version) reading event was successfully held in Mannheim, Germany.
The event aimed to give the German public a clearer and more multidimensional understanding of Qingdao, and to deepen friendship and exchanges between China and Germany. Wu Pengfei, deputy consul general at the Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt, and Dr. Norbert Egger, former first deputy mayor of Mannheim and an honorary citizen of Qingdao, attended the reading.
On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt, Wu expressed sincere respect to Dr. Egger, an old friend of the Chinese people. He noted that, over the years, Dr. Egger has used genuine goodwill and concrete actions to advance China-Germany friendship, helping more German friends get closer to China, learn about China, and appreciate Chinese culture, thereby making invaluable contributions to local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He sincerely hoped that China-Germany friendship would be passed down from generation to generation, and that young people, through exchanges, cooperation, and mutual learning, would work together to help build a more peaceful and prosperous world.
Dr. Norbert Egger shared the story behind writing his book A gateway to the world. He said he has been interested in Chinese culture since his student days, but noted that both Germany and Europe often see China through a Western lens. Therefore, he wanted to use his personal perspective to present the real China — and the real Qingdao — to the German public. The book introduces Qingdao’s connections with Germany, its history, culture, and tourism, as well as its economy, science, urban development, transportation, and social development.
At the event, Dr. Egger also used photos taken during his many visits to Qingdao to show the city’s rapid, leapfrog development.
Images of Qingdao’s cityscape, postcards, and promotional brochures were also displayed. Through these materials, participants gained a more vivid understanding of Qingdao, appreciating the city’s beautiful scenery — red-tiled roofs, green trees, blue seas, and blue skies — and the distinctive charm of a modern, international metropolis.