Along the Dianchi Lake greenway, blue waters ripple beside the path as mountains and lake reflections create a vivid picture of Kunming's ecologically livable environment. Photo source: Cailong Club user @铜钟

From a Chance Stopover to a Partnership Sealed by Mail

A corner of Dietzenbach, Germany, revealing the distinctive character of the small city. Photo provided 

On July 26, 2022, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Germany, a special "gift” was unveiled in Dietzenbach—the installation of Kunming's historic cultural emblem, the Golden Horse and Jade Rooster. More than 30 guests attended the unveiling ceremony, including Sun Congbin, Chinese Consul General in Frankfurt, and Mayor Lange of Dietzenbach. In his remarks, Mayor Lange pledged to further deepen and solidify the sister-city partnership.

With that, a symbol of Kunming was "planted" on foreign soil. It is more than just a plaque; it is a silent message telling every passerby in Germany that a Chinese city named Kunming shares a special bond with this locale.

Cultural exchange is always a two-way street. Earlier, Dietzenbach's celebrated artist, Ute Hauser, brought her signature work, Fashionable Mouse Ludwig, to Kunming, where it initiated a dialogue with Chinese audiences at an exhibition in the Spring City. Such reciprocal exchanges effectively dissolved the unfamiliarity, fostering mutual understanding.

Why This Sister-City Partnership Stands Out

The term "model" is not used lightly. From Consul General Sun Congbin's description of the partnership as "a microcosm of the positive development of China-Germany relations" to Consul General Huang Yiyang's characterization of it as a "model," the assessments by the two successive consuls general reflect a clear and steady elevation in how the relationship is viewed.

Why Kunming and Dietzenbach? Perhaps because their partnership possesses all the elements of sustainability: strong leadership and consistent governmental support; cultural symbols—the Golden Horse and Jade Rooster in Germany and German artists in Kunming; and tangible outcomes, including cooperation in education and talent exchange.

In May 2024, a Dietzenbach delegation visited Yunnan Technology and Business University, where German education experts provided a detailed introduction to the "dual system" vocational education model. The two sides reached preliminary agreements on student visits, advanced studies, and employment channels. In November of the same year, Mayor Lange attended the 2024 China International Friendship Cities Conference in Kunming, where he shared insights on urban governance and highly commended Kunming's capabilities as a host city.

More importantly, neither side has treated the sister-city relationship as a symbolic gesture, but rather as a shared endeavor requiring sustained commitment.