Solidarity from sea to heart

The Ikuta Shrine in Kobe. China Daily will come out with a series of stories highlighting Chinese cities' special connections with sister cities, mutual understanding, trust and friendship between peoples of different countries and cultural backgrounds, and shining light on "city diplomacy". As the former representative of Kobe in Tianjin, Takahashi sees a story rooted in their shared history — both were bustling ports and gateways to their respective countries, each boasting a rich maritime heritage. "In the 1980s, Tianjin Port faced challenges of congestion and outdated infrastructure," Takahashi said. Customs data showed that in the first half of the year, Tianjin Port has cumulatively completed a cargo throughput of 248 million metric tons, a 3.1 percent year-on-year rise, and a container throughput of 11.88 million TEUs, an increase of 4.6 percent year-on-year.