Zhang Jianguo, an administrator of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA), meets with Henriette Reker, mayor of Cologne in Germany, on Feb 12.[photo/safea.gov.cn]

Zhang Jianguo, an administrator of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA), met with Henriette Reker, mayor of Cologne in Germany, on Feb 12. The two sides exchanged views on enhancing communication between China and Germany in environmental governance.

Zhang welcomed Reker to her second visit to China. He said that China and Germany have carried out a series of projects in environmental governance. German experts have come to China to share their experiences and Chinese experts also visited Germany for exchanges and training. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Beijing and Cologne becoming sister cities, and the 30th anniversary of the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel setting up an office in Cologne.

Reker spoke highly of the achievements made by China and Germany in environmental governance. She said that the Cologne government values its friendship with SAFEA and the Beijing government, and she would like to take this opportunity to promote cooperation between China and Germany in different areas.

China Association for International Exchange of Personnel (CAIEP) set up an office in Cologne in 1987. In the past thirty years, CAIEP has been in close touch with the Cologne government, and promoted communication in many areas between the two countries. Several mayors of Cologne had visited SAFEA and supported the work of CAIEP in Cologne.

Reker was elected mayor of Cologne in 2015, and she has visited SAFEA twice and said that she will promote cooperation between Cologne and SAFEA in different areas.