Wuxi delegation poses for a group photo with Bocholt's Vice-Mayor Gudrun Koppers (in green, first row). [Photo/WeChat account: wuxifao]
A group of 29 students from Wuxi Jiangnan Middle School has recently traveled to Bocholt, Germany, for a four-day study and cultural exchange program, the first youth delegation since the two cities officially formalized their sister-city relationship in May.
The delegation was greeted upon arrival with a welcome reception hosted by Bocholt's Vice-Mayor Gudrun Koppers. In her remarks, Koppers extended a warm welcome to the visiting students and emphasized that youth exchanges foster mutual understanding and keep the friendship between the two cities vibrant for years to come.
The program combined academic immersion with cultural exploration and sustainability education. Students attended classes at a local school, where they engaged directly with German peers and gained firsthand insight into the differences between Chinese and Western education systems. The group also visited the Bocholt campus of Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, where they learned about local higher education models, academic specializations, and pathways for further study.
Beyond the classroom, the itinerary included a visit to a textile museum, where students traced the development of Bocholt's traditional textile industry and the city's industrial transformation. A dedicated focus on sustainability saw participants take part in a digital city exploration activity centered on the theme "Climate City Bocholt".
The exchange marks a milestone in the four-decade-long friendship between Wuxi and Bocholt. The two cities first established contacts in the early 1980s and have since cooperated extensively in trade, education, and culture. In 2003, they signed a letter of intent on friendly exchanges and cooperation. The sister-city relationship was officially approved by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in May of this year.
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