"In 2014, there were only about 40 Chinese companies in Duisburg, but by now, that number has exceeded 120. In the quaint Duisburg City Hall,Markus Teuber, the China Affairs Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Duisburg, shared with Yangcheng Evening News the changes made to Duisburg by the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Europe Railway Express.

China-Europe Railway Express brings Chinese companies and goods

In 2011, the first China-Europe Railway Express (Chongqing) arrived in Duisburg. Since then, Duisburg has gradually developed into the largest European hub with the most trips, highest transport volume, and highest cargo value of the China-Europe Railway Express.

"The passage of the China-Europe Railway Express has enabled Duisburg to directly get in touch with Germany's largest trading partner, China, for the first time. Enterprises from both sides began to use logistics services provided by the China-Europe Railway Express.Teuber pointed out that through the China-Europe Railway Express, Chinese and German products can be transported faster in a safe way, which greatly improves the efficiency of business.

More and more Chinese products have been imported to Germany thanks to the China-Europe Railway Express. "In the Ruhr area, the market share of Chinese goods varies, but overall, Chinese products cover almost all market sectors," said Teuber.

The China-Europe Railway Express not only brings Chinese goods to Germany but also brings Chinese companies and job opportunities to Duisburg. With the increasing acknowledgment of Duisburg in China,a lot of Chinese companies and institutions have come to Duisburg to invest and start businesses.

"There are not only large Chinese companies in Duisburg but also many small and medium-sized enterprises. According to our statistics, they have brought more than 1,000 new jobs to the city of Duisburg."Teuber pointed out.

Future cooperation with the Greater Bay Area in green hydrogen energy and logistics

In September 2020, the first China-Europe Railway Express (Shenzhen) arrived at Duisburg Port in Germany, marking the successful completion of a 13,438-kilometer intercontinental transportation journey in 16 days. This marks a new international trade route directly connecting the central part of Europe to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

"Many cross-border e-commerce businesses have come from the GBA in recent years. There is also China-Europe Railway Express (Shenzhen) connecting Duisburg and the GBA."Teuber told reporters that he had led teams to China for inspection and investment promotion many times. Among them, the GBA impressed him with a dynamic economy and a high level of scientific and technological development. "We hope to deepen cooperation with the GBA in areas such as green steelmaking and logistics.”

Teuber said that Duisburg is promoting industrial transformation, especially the development of green steelmaking and logistics industries. In the future, Ruhr will gradually replace coal-based steelmaking with green hydrogen-based steelmaking, but more research investment is needed in this field. The GBA is an important base for hydrogen production,and Duisburg hopes to cooperate with the Greater Bay Area in the field of green hydrogen energy to achieve win-win results.

【视频】杜伊斯堡市中国事务专员陶逸泊：在杜伊斯堡投资的中国企业已超过120家

“2014年，在杜伊斯堡市大约有40家中国企业，而到了现在这个数字已经超过了120家。”在古色古香的杜伊斯堡市政厅里，杜伊斯堡中国事务专员陶逸泊向羊城晚报特派德国记者分享了“一带一路”倡议及中欧班列为杜伊斯堡带来的改变。

中欧班列带来了中国商品和中国企业

2011年，首列中欧班列（渝新欧）抵达了杜伊斯堡，此后，杜伊斯堡逐渐发展成为了运行中欧班次最多、运量最大、货值最高的欧洲枢纽。

“中欧班列的通行，使得杜伊斯堡能够首次直达德国的最大贸易伙伴——中国。双方企业开始使用中欧班列提供的物流服务。”陶逸泊指出，通过中欧班列，中德双方的产品和商品能更快地以安全的方式进行运输，这极大地提升了商业的效率。

越来越多的中国制造随着中欧班列进入到了德国。“在鲁尔区，中国商品的市场占有率有高有低，但总的来说，中国商品几乎覆盖了所有的消费领域。”陶逸泊指出。

中欧班列不仅带来了中国商品，更为杜伊斯堡带来了中国企业和就业岗位。随着杜伊斯堡在中国的知名度的提升，众多中国企业和机构纷纷来到杜伊斯堡投资兴业。

“进驻杜伊斯堡市的中国企业不只是大型企业，还有很多中小型企业。据我们的统计，他们为杜伊斯堡市带来了超过1000个新的就业岗位。”陶逸泊指出。

盼与大湾区在绿色氢能和物流方面强化合作

2020年9月，首列“湾区号”深圳中欧班列驶进德国杜伊斯堡港，标志着16天13438公里的洲际运输顺利结束，粤港澳大湾区开辟出一条直通欧洲中部的新的国际贸易大通道。

“近年来，很多跨境电商都来自粤港澳大湾区。也有专门的‘湾区号’中欧班列往返于杜伊斯堡和粤港澳大湾区。”陶逸泊告诉记者，他曾多次带领团队前往中国考察和招商，其中，经济活跃、科技发展水平高的粤港澳大湾区让他印象深刻。“我们希望与粤港澳大湾区在绿色炼钢和物流等方面深化合作。”

陶逸泊表示，杜伊斯堡正在大力推动工业转型，特别是发展绿色炼钢产业和物流产业。未来，鲁尔区会逐渐把煤炼钢替换为绿色氢能炼钢，但在该领域还需要加大研究的投入。而粤港澳大湾区是氢能重要基地，希望能与大湾区在绿色氢能方面实现良好合作，实现双赢。

出品人 | 杜传贵 林海利
总策划 | 孙爱群 孙璇 林洁
总监制 | 吴江 蒋铮 侯恕望
统筹 | 孙晶 刘佳宁 骆苹
文 | 羊城晚报特派德国记者 陈泽云 付怡
图 | 羊城晚报特派德国记者 梁喻
视频 | 黎杰文
译 | 白心怡