Connection with China crucial for Port of Hamburg: marketing CEO

The Port of Hamburg, Germany's largest port and a crucial European sea-rail transportation hub, has witnessed continuously expanding trade volumes with China over the past five decades, said the port's marketing chief.

Hamburg Port has long served as a microcosm of China-EU economic cooperation. Now, about 30 percent of the port's cargo originate from and go to China, which makes the country the top trading partner of the port for many consecutive years, according to Axel Mattern, CEO of Hamburg Port Marketing.

"A significant portion of cargo handled at the Port of Hamburg -- accounting for 30 percent of its total volume -- either originates from or is destined for China. This makes Hamburg's connection with China and Chinese ports absolutely vital. We maintain extremely close exchanges with China, which has remained Hamburg Port's largest trading partner for many consecutive years," said Mattern.

Data from Hamburg Port Marketing shows the port handled 597,000 TEUs of China-bound containers in Q1 2025, an 11.3-percent year-on-year increase. In 2024, China accounted for 2.2 million TEUs, or about 30 percent of the port's total throughput.

Beyond growing volumes, China-Europe goods transiting Hamburg have diversified, including consumer products, chemicals, and machinery equipment.

"We have signed various cooperation memorandums with our Chinese partners. Hamburg Port maintains long-term, close collaborations with Shanghai Port and Shenzhen Port. Additionally, we operate large-scale offices in Shanghai, Ningbo, Tianjin, and Qingdao. Hamburg Port remains committed to fostering professional exchange, which is why we have established diverse partnerships, including technical exchanges, port operations, and crucially, in the fields of digitalization and green sustainability initiatives," said Mattern.

He emphasized Hamburg's role as Europe's gateway, where Chinese goods are distributed across the continent, reflecting tight economic bonds between China, Germany and the rest of Europe.

"We have been actively participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for many years, with particular focus on the rail connections between China and the Port of Hamburg. Moreover, we view this as a partnership -- one that is open and collaborative," he said.

As a vital China-Europe trade nexus, Hamburg Port continues deepening bilateral exchanges in goods and personnel. The port authorities pledged to further enhance economic cooperation under the BRI framework.

Connection with China crucial for Port of Hamburg: marketing CEO

The Shenzhou-23 crew aboard China's Tiangong Space Station has recently carried out in-orbit electroencephalogram (EEG) testing and other scientific experiments, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The three astronauts, Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying, used EEG acquisition equipment to conduct a series of experimental tests including space brain monitoring driven by brain network mapping and visual motion processing.

They also carried out experiments on the time-varying characteristics of space brain networks, in-orbit tactile perception and force control tests.

The data obtained will be used to study changes in astronauts' brain functional networks, tactile perception and fine motor control during long-term orbital flight.

In accordance with the experimental arrangements in the field of microgravity physical science, the crew completed the cleaning of samples in the containerless cabinet experiment chamber, replacement of experimental samples and maintenance of the electrode of the axial mechanism. They also inspected and maintained the two-phase system experiment cabinet.

Last week, the Shenzhou-23 crew completed inspections and tests of their in-cabin pressure suits as scheduled, and also carried out in-orbit emergency rescue training.

Meanwhile, the crew has been tending to the space station complex platform, completing work such as measuring the temperature and wind speed inside the cabin.

In-orbit health monitoring also continued. The astronauts conducted overall visual function measurements, intraocular pressure and fundus examinations, and transorbital ultrasound measurements.

They also used a "space scale" to measure their body mass to monitor physiological changes in the microgravity environment.

At present, the crew is in good physical and mental condition, and in-orbit missions are progressing efficiently, the CMSA said.

China's Shenzhou-23 crew conducts in-orbit EEG tests, other space station experiments