China News Agency, Berlin, February 2. Question: How does "Europe's first Chinatown" become connected with China?

　　——Interview with Bernd Mayer, First Mayor of Dietfurt, Bavaria, Germany

　　China News Agency reporter Ma Xiuxiu

　　Dietfurt in Bavaria, Germany is known as "the first Chinatown in Europe".

There is a small area, with a Chinese school and a Chinese museum; the people there can't speak Chinese, but they are often called "Chinese in Bavaria".

　　Dietfurt holds a "Carnival" with Chinese characteristics every February.

At that time, red lanterns will be hung in the streets and alleys, the word "Fu" will be pasted on the windows, and the residents will dress up as Chinese and perform traditional Chinese performances.

　　How did Dieterfurt become attached to China, thousands of miles away?

How is the communication between the local area and China?

To promote China-Germany friendship, what experience can Dietfurt share?

The first mayor of Dietfurt, Bernd Mayr, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "Dongxiwen" to discuss the above topics.

The interview transcript is summarized as follows:

China News Agency reporter: Dietfurt, Germany is known as "the first Chinatown in Europe".

Can you introduce its origin with China?

Bernd Meyer:

It goes back to medieval times.

Roughly from 1400 to 1450, Dietfurt belonged to the diocese of Eichstätt at that time, so the bishop's government sent tax officials to Dietfurt to collect taxes.

At that time, Dietfurt had a city wall and two large city gates.

When the tax collector came to Dietfurt, the residents closed the city gates and said from the tower: "No, we don't pay taxes, because the bishop doesn't care about us." In this case, the tax collector had to leave, and Record this in the book.

In the book, which has survived to this day, the tax collectors said that the residents of Dietfurt were like the Chinese who built a wall for defense.

This is how the local residents are nicknamed "Chinese".

　　After the First World War, Dietfurt gradually took the shape of the "Carnival", and the performances at that time included brass bands dressed as Chinese; after the Second World War, the scale of the "Carnival" continued to increase. The residents of Dietfurt are known internationally as the "Chinese" of Bavaria.

Some children dress up as "Chinese" and participate in "carnival" activities from early childhood.

This is a tradition that the locals have maintained for decades: On a certain Thursday, people dress up as "Chinese" to celebrate the festival.

During the "Carnival" people see themselves as "Chinese" in Bavaria.

The 2019 Dietfurt "Chinese Carnival" parade scene.

Photo courtesy of Yuan Jinyong

China News Agency reporter: Can you introduce the features and highlights of this year's "Carnival"?

Bernd Meyer:

For the first time this year, we will have an "emperor couple" participating in the "Carnival" performance. Previously, there was only the role of "emperor".

At that time, the "Emperor" and "Queen" will have a very large entourage.

　　The "emperor" and "empress" were played by two Dietfurts, who were indeed married.

In addition, "Chinese Warrior" and "Chinese Chef" are also involved in the performance of roles.

　　This year's "Carnival" will start at 14:00 on Thursday, February 16. First, there will be a parade, and then there will be stage performances. People can watch the "Emperor" and "Queen" and pay tribute to them. Wait for the carnival to unfold.

Citizens of Dietfurt dressed up as the emperor (second from left) and other Chinese-style characters at the 2019 Dietfurt "Chinese Carnival".

Photo courtesy of Yuan Jinyong

China News Agency reporter: What is the situation of Dietfurt residents visiting China or their impression of China?

Bernd Meyer:

In fact, not many Dietfurt residents have visited China.

In 2016, we visited Nanjing, when we were a delegation of 30 people.

In 1999, more than 30 members of the Dietfurt Band visited Beijing.

In addition, business people travel between China and Dietfurt.

But overall, most people still haven't been to China.

　　Based on our "Carnival", Dietfurt residents are more open-minded than residents of other German cities.

Of course, the locals are happy to have Chinese people visiting Dietfurt every year.

For example, a delegation from the Chinese Consulate General in Munich or the Confucius Institute in Munich visits.

For Dietfurt, it is normal to see Chinese people walking on the streets.

　　Taking last year's "Bavaria China Summer" event as an example, Tong Defa, the Chinese Consul General in Munich, visited Dietfurt. We had a long friendly exchange with the delegation and watched Chinese dance and music performances.

Although Dietfurt is small, we have made some contributions to the friendship between Bavaria and China, which is well known.

I want to emphasize again that as long as we communicate with each other, we have the opportunity to understand completely different cultures.

Reporter from China News Agency: How is Dieterfurt's exchanges with China at present?

Bernd Meyer:

We interact with China on a regular basis.

For example, I was invited to attend the Spring Festival reception held by the Chinese Consulate General in Munich on January 15th.

This year's "Carnival", the Consulate General provided us with some help, so that we were able to decorate the city in a Chinese style during the festival. This is a pretty good story.

　　We have been trying to connect the two completely different worlds of Bavarian culture and Chinese culture.

We try to do new activities every year, whether it's language, writing, or drawing, cooking lessons have been greatly supported.

The local Cultural Palace (Kulturhaus) will hold cultural day activities around Chinese themes. People can learn Chinese characters and cook Chinese dishes. The Chinese restaurant in Dietfurt will also participate, which is really great.

In 2019, "Fu Gaodi", the protagonist of Dieterfurt's "Chinese Carnival", awarded the "Certificate of Royal Chef" to Yuan Jinyong and his wife, a Chinese man who runs the catering industry in the local area.

Yuan Jinyong is the chairman of the German Chinese Cuisine Association and the president of Dietfurt's "Seven Immortals Town Restaurant".

Photo courtesy of Yuan Jinyong

　　Dieterfurt has two companies in the automotive industry that maintain very close business relations with China, and have a large number of sales and production in China.

From this point of view, our partnership is very good, very positive.

　　Since 2014, we have established a sister city relationship with Nanjing.

I plan to bring a business delegation to visit Nanjing in 2024, and I am very much looking forward to it.

China News Agency reporter: In order to promote Sino-German friendship, what experience can Dietfurt share?

Bernd Meyer:

As far as I am concerned, I have been to China ten times. I have visited Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing and other places, and I have been welcomed in these places.

　　As I've talked about before, it's important to visit each other.

We have to try to understand the culture and structure of the other country, and don't take it for granted that China, as an economic powerhouse, may do things that hurt us.

The difference is that without China, we in Bavaria, Germany, may not be so rich.

　　If there are similar partnerships among other cities, they should be run with care.

To maintain this partnership, it is imperative to visit each other, otherwise the relationship may "sleep" or cease.

On-the-spot communication is the most important thing, which helps to deepen the understanding of each other's cities.

(Finish)

Respondent profile:

　　Bernd Mayr was born on February 19, 1968 in Dietfurt.

Dietfurt first mayor since May 2020.