Following the Hamburg visit a call at the Port of Hamburg's stand at the Transport Logistics 2009 trade fair in Munich was also arranged for the 30-strong delegation from Xiamen, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Rizhao, together with representatives of the administrative authorities of Hamburg's partner ports of Shanghai and Shenzhen.
Hamburg's partner ports were represented by Li Xudong, vice chief economist with the Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Authority, and Ma Yong Zhi, vice director of the Bureau of Communications of the Ports Administration of Shenzhen.
The visit was organised by Port of Hamburg Marketing, HWF Hamburg Business Development Corporation, Hamburg Marketing GmbH and the Hamburg Port Authority, together with the companies POLZUG Intermodal GmbH, TFG Transfracht GmbH and HHLA AG.
"Hamburg is the leading seaport in Europe for trade with China. We are using this visit by a high-ranking economic delegation from China as an opportunity to make our guests aware of the facilities Hamburg offers as a port and logistics centre, and to intensify already existing business contacts," said Port of Hamburg marketing chairwoman Claudia Roller.
The Port of Hamburg is described as being the biggest and most important transshipment centre in Europe for China. One in three containers dispatched or destined for a Chinese port is now being handled by one of its container terminals.
"We hope to appeal to Chinese companies that have recognised the expansion potential Europe has to offer, and are now looking for a suitable location," said Heinrich Lieser, chairman of the management boards of HWF Hamburg Business Development Corporation and Hamburg Marketing GmbH (HMG).
With more than 400 Chinese firms located in Hamburg, a closely knit network has developed around the River Elbe, which is said to have made Hamburg a principal Chinese base in Europe in political, scientific and cultural terms.