The first Chinese trade ship arrived in Hamburg in 1731, and 300 years later, China remains Hamburg's most important trading partner. Representatives from Qingdao, a major port city in China, opened an exhibition in Hamburg to strengthen trade relations. Germany is a key investor in Qingdao, with significant investments and numerous freight connections between the ports. Hamburg is part of China's New Silk Road initiative, which aims to improve connectivity between China and Europe. Despite criticism of China's expansionist approach, particularly from Washington, Hamburg views this as an opportunity and does not foresee a negative impact on trade. The Hamburg Port Authority does not expect the positive outlook to be affected by criticism. Qingdao is expanding its port capabilities and aims to surpass Shanghai as the world's largest port. China insists the New Silk Road is not a one-way street and emphasizes its multilateral and mutually beneficial nature.