From March 4 to 9, Mr. Volker Hagen, Managing Director and CFO of the Aachen-Ningbo Sister-City Relationship Promotion Association, visited Ningbo, and conducted discussions respectively with Ningbo Foreign Affairs Office, Ningbo Education Bureau, and Ningbo Investment Promotion Bureau in enhancing exchanges and cooperation in various areas between the two cities.

Mr. JIAO Shuanglin, Deputy Director-General of Ningbo Foreign Affairs Office, met with Mr. Volker Hagen, and warmly welcomed his second visit to Ningbo. Mr. JIAO thanked Mr. Hagen for his contributions over the years in promoting friendly cooperation between the two cities, especially for his role in facilitating the establishment of several German enterprises in Ningbo, which has injected new impetus into the bilateral friendly relationship. Both sides spoke highly of the achievements in exchanges and cooperation over the past year. Initiatives such as high-level official visits, the "international secondment" program for civil servants, and the German language summer camp in Aachen for Ningbo students have all effectively consolidated and enhanced the traditional friendship between the two cities. The two sides also discussed their annual plan for exchanges in 2025, and agreed to start preparations of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of their sister-city relationship as soon as possible.

Since the establishment of the sister-city relationship in October 1986, Ningbo and Aachen have engaged in extensive exchanges and cooperation in areas including economy, science and technology, culture, education, healthcare, and talent training. Aachen has previously been honored with the "Friendship City Award for Exchanges and Cooperation with China" by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.