Thomas Vogel, the Berlin image ambassador and business director of Alba Berlin basketball club in Asia visited Taicang, a city in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on Feb 2.

The purpose of this visit was to engage in in-depth discussions with the Taicang High-Tech Zone on how to implement the advanced models of Germany's Alba Berlin in youth sports, culture, and holistic education in Taicang.

During the meeting, Mao Yaping, a standing member of the CPC Taicang Municipal Committee introduced the geographical advantages of Taicang, the development of German enterprises in the area, and the strong German cultural and lifestyle atmosphere in Taicang.

She expressed that the cooperation between Taicang and Germany is expanding in depth, moving beyond industrial collaboration to various sectors such as science, education, culture, tourism, and public welfare. This gradual expansion is shaping a comprehensive pattern of bilateral cooperation and integration, she added.

The Taicang High-Tech Zone has already established comprehensive cooperation with Bayern Munich and hopes to initiate substantive cooperation with Alba Berlin in the areas of basketball exchange and promotion, said Mao.

Alba Berlin basketball club, affiliated with the Alba Group, was founded in Berlin, Germany in 1989. The club has won over 20 German and international championships. In China, the club has established connections with more than 120 Chinese primary and secondary schools offering German language courses.

Mao Yaping (right) meets with Thomas Vogel. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_5d51cb296177]