Cologne(Germany)

Cologne(Germany)

[Overview] Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany as well as the country's important economic, cultural and transportation center. Located on the Rhine, in the most developed and industrialized state of North Rhine-Westphalia in central Germany, Cologne covers an area of 405.15 square kilometers and has a population of 1.08 million.

[Politics] Cologne is governed by the city council and the city government. There are currently 100 seats in the city council. The term of office of city councilors is five years. The chairman of the city council also serves as the lord mayor of the city. The city government is headed by one mayor and three deputy mayors, and their term of office is five years. The mayor is directly elected by citizens. The deputy mayors are elected by the city council from the city councilors and have no administrative power. However, as assistants to the mayor in the city council, they may represent Cologne externally. There are nine departments under the city government, and the department heads, appointed by the city council for a term of eight years, are responsible for managing the affairs of their respective departments. The incumbent lord mayor, Henriette Reker, took office in October 2015.

[Economy] Cologne has a developed economy, and its major industries are chemicals, electronics, auto making and machine production. Pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, rubber products, and recorded music are also well-developed. Cologne is the country's exposition, aerospace, and gasoline and diesel trade center. The Federal Railway Authority of Germany and Lufthansa are headquartered in the city. Cologne holds various exhibitions all year round. The most famous ones are specialized exhibitions on photographic equipment, food, sports equipment, and furniture.

[Culture] Cologne is Germany's communications center. The country's major radio and television stations are located here. The MediaPark in the city center covers an area of 20 hectares, housing more than 200 media outlets. There are many theaters, museums and galleries in the city. A variety of cultural events, including the Cologne Carnival, are held here every year. Cologne Cathedral is the most famous landmark in the city.

[Relations with Beijing] On September 14, 1987, Beijing and Cologne established a sister city relationship. In recent years, the two cities have had friendly exchanges and cooperation in the fields of investment, trade, culture, and education.

Investment and Trade: In 2014, Beijing and Cologne signed a memorandum on investment and trade cooperation. Cologne promised to send a delegation to participate in each China International Fair for Trade in Services held in Beijing, and Beijing pledged that it would attend the China Business and Investment Forum held in Cologne every two years. In 2018, Cologne held a business promotion conference at the Beijing Hotel NUO.

Culture: Cologne held the China Festival in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019. Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Beijing Cultural Investment Development Group and other organizations of Beijing sent delegations from time-honored companies and art troupes to Cologne to attend the China Festival. In 2017, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the sisterhood between the two cities, the Cologne Philharmonic Orchestra, together with the famous conductor François-Xavier Roth and the famous violinist Vilde Frang, presented the “Eternal Classics” concert at the National Centre for the Performing Arts of China. In 2018, Cologne staged the “360-degree Charm of Cologne” photo exhibition at the Bird's Nest in Beijing.

Education: The education authorities of the two cities signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2014 and renewed the memorandum in 2018.

Municipal Administration: From 2014 to 2015, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Management sent a delegation of 19 representatives from household waste management, finance, planning and other relevant departments to Cologne and Berlin for a two-week training on household waste management and disposal.

科隆市(德国)

【概况】科隆是德国第四大城市，德国重要的经济、文化和交通中心。它位于德国中部经济最发达、工业化程度最高的北莱茵—威斯特伐利亚州，横跨莱茵河两岸，面积为405.15平方公里，人口108万。

【政治】科隆市领导机构包括市政府和市议会。市议会现有100个席位，主要政党有基督教民主同盟、社民党、自由党等。议会主席由市长兼任，议员任期5年。市政府有1名市长和3名副市长，任期5年。市长通过市民直接选举产生，副市长由市议会在市议员中选举产生，无行政实权，但作为市长在市议会的助手可对外代表科隆。市政府下设9个部门，部门负责人管理相关具体事务，由市议会任命，任期8年。现任市长何珂于2015年10月就职，于2020年10月连选连任，新任期至2025年。

【经济】科隆经济发达，主要工业有化工、电子、车辆制造和机械制造。医药、食品、化妆品、橡胶制品和唱片业也很发达。科隆还是德国重要的金融中心、信息中心、博览会中心、宇航中心、汽油和柴油贸易中心。科隆常年举办各种展览会，其中照相器材、食品、运动器材和国际家具等专业展览会最为有名。

【文化】科隆是德国通讯中心，德主要电台、电视台均设于此，市中心占地20公顷的“媒体公园”集中了200多家媒体机构。市内有许多剧院、博物馆和画廊，每年都举办多种文化活动，包括科隆狂欢节等。科隆大教堂是科隆市最著名的地标建筑。

【两市交往】1987年9月14日，北京市与科隆市正式建立友好城市关系。近年来，两市在经贸、文化、教育等领域进行了友好交流与合作。

经贸领域：2014年，两市签署了经贸合作备忘录。科隆市承诺将派团参加每届“京交会”，北京市将每两年赴科隆参加“中国商务与投资论坛”。2018年，科隆市在北京饭店诺金举办科隆市商贸推介会。

文化领域：科隆市分别于2012年、2014年、2017年和2019年举办“中国节”活动，我市商务局、市文化局、市文投集团等单位分别组织老字号企业、文艺团体等赴科隆参加上述活动。2017年，为庆祝两市结好三十周年，科隆爱乐乐团携手著名指挥家弗郎索瓦-格扎维尔·罗特、小提琴家薇尔德·弗朗在国家大剧院举办“永恒的经典”音乐会。2018年，科隆市在鸟巢举办“360度魅力科隆”图片展活动。

教育领域：两市教育主管部门于2014年签署了合作备忘录，并于2018年续签了该备忘录。

市政管理：2014年至2015年，市市政市容委连续两年组织生活垃圾管理、财政、规划等有关单位19人赴科隆和柏林进行了为期两周的生活垃圾管理与处理的培训。

（Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal Government）