Göteborg mayor discusses ideas for sustainable cities
Print Edition
In 1732, the Swedish merchant ship Göteborg sailed for China, inaugurating trade between the two countries. In 2006, a replica of the tall ship was built for a voyage along the ancient maritime Silk Road, leaving from the port city of Göteborg and sailing more than halfway around the world to visit Chinese cities, including Shanghai.
This week, Anneli Hulthén, mayor of Göteborg, Shanghai’s sister city, is leading a delegation in town to meet Shanghai government officials. They will discuss various issues including the 30th anniversary of becoming sister cities.
They also plan to attend the Göteborg Symphony Orchestra’s performance at Shanghai Symphony Hall tonight, The concert is part of celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Sweden.
The orchestra will perform in Beijing tomorrow night as part of its China tour.
During her stay in Shanghai, her fourth visit, Hulthén spoke with Shanghai Daily about the common challenges both cities face, possible solutions, opportunities for collaboration and her strategy to build Göteborg into a sustainable city.
Q: What will you discuss with local officials?
A: This is in the middle of our memorandum of understanding that was signed in 1986, so it is a good opportunity to discuss what progresses we have made and also what challenges we are facing in the future.
We will mainly be discussing the points included in the memorandum, such as energy, waste, elderly care, among others. These are challenges for everybody in the world, and in some areas we can show some examples to Shanghai, and discuss how we each try to solve the challenges.
Of course we can also talk about gender equality, which was not in the memorandum. That is a quite interesting subject to talk about as well.
Q: The countries are far apart, have different cultures, weather, languages, etc. Do you think there is any common ground? What are they?
A: As a small city and country, you always have to be very humble. Compared with China, we are so much smaller in population. I always find it easier to start discussion from the challenges that both small and big countries face, specific issues like climate change, care for the elderly, all the environmental questions that we need to tackle, among others.
We also have lots of Chinese students in the various high education institutions in Göteborg. They are all ambassadors who will introduce the history, culture, people and tourism to Chinese people when they return to their hometowns.
We also have quite a large Chinese community in the city, with a very active consulate office. And we have also seen increasingly more Chinese tourists in the city, partially due to the collaboration of China’s Geely and Sweden’s Volvo, which introduced Sweden to more Chinese people.
Q: You aim to build Göteborg into a sustainable city? What is needed to create a sustainable city? What is your plan?
A: Sustainability includes both environmental and social aspects.
First of all, we need to change the transportation system. We are a car society just as China is becoming one. But we have to think more about using public transportation, about more environmentally friendly ways such as biking. You have a great tradition of bicycling, and you should definitely pick it up again.
This summer, we will launch the first pure electric bus route in the city, which is so clean and silent that we will even build some indoor bus stops to showcase, such as a new library that will also serve as a bus stop.
When we tried to run the first bus, we tested it in a shopping center in the middle of the city, and nobody even realized a bus was driving in the middle of the shopping center because it was so quiet.
We rely very much on trams, which are like a symbol of the city, but it is not a very modern system. And we plan to transform our railway system into the underground.
Q: What about social sustainability?
A: It is always more difficult to measure and have concrete work on social sustainability. We have measured and tested that we now have a larger gap in health and life expectancy between wealthy and poor people, and we are researching the reasons behind this, especially focusing on the health of children living in different groups.
Q: You have visited Shanghai a few times, what do you see as good examples to bring back?
A: I admire the way that once a decision is made, it is executed very efficiently. Your subway system was built in a few years, and it would probably take 100 years for us, because we plan, discuss, disagree and debate. But you managed to execute all these huge projects very well. I’m very impressed by it.
Q: What are some of the tourist attractions in Göteborg?
A: We have beautiful nature, fresh air, easy access to outdoor activities including going to nearby islands that have historical sites and buildings. For those coming from China, it will be very appealing to visit the islands. They are quiet, beautiful, historical and well-preserved.
The Liseberg amusement park in the middle of the city is also great fun for both children and adults. The Christmas fair in the park is especially beautiful and famous.
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