On October 18, a delegation from Saxony, Germany headed by Christopher Schmidt, the Vice Minister of Saxony Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, arrived in Yichang. Zhang Zhengjun, the Vice Mayor of Yichang met with the delegation in Taohualing Hotel.

The friendly cooperation between Hubei Province and Saxony State was first established in May, 2004 when Yu Zhengsheng, the member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and former provincial Party Secretary of Hubei Province, paid a visit to Saxony. At the end of June, 2007, a delegation headed by Kashmir Brad, the Governor of Saxony visited Hubei and signed Agreement on Friendship between Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China and Saxony, Germany with Luo Qingquan, former Governor of Hubei Province.

Located in Eastern Germany, Free State of Saxony has advantages of about 750 enterprises producing auto parts, accessories and device service. BMW, Porsche and Volkswagen all have highly modernized production plants in Leipzig and Dresden of Saxony State. As the auto industry in Hubei Province is also highly developed, the Saxony State government made auto parts and accessories its main economic cooperation field with Hubei Province.

Zhang introduced the regional advantages and the economic and social development of Yichang as well as its progression and achievements in building the second largest city of Hubei Province to the delegation. The delegates said that Yichang is an impressive city with beautiful scenery and rapid development and showed interest in enhancing communication and cooperation with Yichang.

The delegation will attend the Hubei-Saxony Environmental Protection Technology Seminar. They will also visit the Three Gorges Project.