One in four containers that pass through Hamburg's port is heading to or from China, the city's No 1 trading partner.
Chinese shipping giants, such as Cosco and China Shipping, are particularly conspicuous in Hamburg Harbor. The Airbus assembly plant in the suburbs of Germany's second largest city has been busy making aircrafts for Chinese airlines.
And a cultural connection can be seen downtown, where Chinese Teahouse - based off Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden - attracts people from all over the world.
More than 10,000 people of Chinese origin live in Hamburg, Lieser said.
"The presence is the strongest one in Europe for the time being," he said.
While logistics remains the dominant field for Chinese companies in Hamburg, they are also making strides in other sectors, including IT, medical and design, Lieser added.
These companies' success and the intercultural contact they provide is important to cultivating friendships among Germans and Chinese, he explained.
"The image of China is a very positive one in Germany, especially in Hamburg," he said.
Lieser believes exchanges are important to prevent people from fearing China.
"It's not because of China; it's because of us. We have to be fast, change and adapt to competition," he said.
"German companies have understood this. They invest in China and (engage) Chinese companies."
The Hamburg House also showcases the city's achievements in offering a better life and demonstrates how it combats climate change through energy-saving technologies.
The building, which resembles a set of drawers opening in four directions, is China's first certified "passive house", meaning it consumes zero energy while maintaining comfortable room temperatures in all seasons.
(Source: China Daily)
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