Recently, the “Opportunities in Qingdao: Journey Together to Mountains and Seas” 2026 Qingdao–Germany Economic, Trade, Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Exchange Conference, hosted by the Information Office of the Qingdao Municipal People’s Government, was held in Frankfurt, Germany.
The event aimed to showcase Qingdao’s open and inclusive character, favorable business environment, and achievements in building a modern international metropolis; further deepen practical cooperation between Qingdao and Germany in economic and trade cooperation, investment, technological innovation, industrial collaboration, and cultural exchange; and attract more German enterprises, innovation resources, and high-level talent to focus on Qingdao, invest in Qingdao, and establish a presence there.
Gao Fei, vice president of the Deutsch-Chinesischer Handel und Investment Forderverein e. V., noted in her presentation that Qingdao enjoys a unique geographical advantage, boasts world-class ports, and serves as a vital hub connecting the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.
Qingdao has a solid industrial foundation, with traditional competitive industries such as household appliances, automobiles, and equipment manufacturing continuing to strengthen, while emerging industries including artificial intelligence, biomedicine, new energy, and new materials are developing more rapidly.
Participants watched a city promotional video produced by the Information Office of the Qingdao Municipal People’s Government, learning about the coastal city through its geographical location, cultural heritage, economic development, and educational strengths, and experiencing the unique charm of a modern international metropolis through its red-tiled roofs, green trees, blue seas, and clear skies.
Michael Borchmann, former director of the Department of International Affairs of the State of Hesse, remarked, “As an important Chinese coastal city, Qingdao has a diversified industrial and trade structure, and Qingdao Port is one of the world’s major container hub ports.” He expressed the hope that more German visitors would visit Qingdao and experience the city’s charm firsthand.
Kai Schulz, the Hesse representative of the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA), stated that Qingdao possesses ports, advanced manufacturing, and world-renowned brands such as Haier and Hisense, while Hesse has strengths in finance, aviation, and other sectors. The two sides have broad scope for cooperation in economy, trade, and industry.
The association is willing to fully leverage its resources and experience to build bridges of communication and provide professional services for companies on both sides, helping deepen exchanges and expand mutually beneficial cooperation.
The event also featured an exhibition of Qingdao cityscape photographs. Through the image panels, participants deepened their understanding of Qingdao. Many German guests expressed their eagerness to visit Qingdao, explore the city’s beauty, taste its food, and pursue cooperation.