Göteborg and Shanghai have been sister cities since the mid-1980s. This is intended to increase cooperation between the two regions on a broad front. China and especially Shanghai are among the fastest growing regions in the world. Today there are several companies from the Göteborg region onsite in Shanghai, including several Volvo companies and SKF.Mutual contacts between the cities were further enhanced in 2004. One of the areas of particular emphasis is Swedish industrial design, and companies such as Volvo and Hasselblad are very active in the exchange.
During the year, Göteborg also received visits from several highly placed Chinese officials. In September, the Deputy Prime Minister of China Wu Yi inaugurated Shanghai´s new trade office in Göteborg. In June, the mayor of Shanghai participat-ed in the christening of the East Indiaman Götheborg III. China´s Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also visited Göteborg during the year.
Göteborg also participated for the first time in Xiamen´s major investment fair together with Invest in Sweden Agency. During the year, the first Chinese businesses were also established in Göteborg.
