G20 Summit 2017 to be held in Hamburg
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The city of Hamburg is to host the G20 summit in July 2017. The German chancellor Angela Merkel and the First Mayor of Hamburg Olaf Scholz announced this during the traditional Matthaie-Mahl Friday in the Hamburger Town Hall. Merkel said: “I believe that it is well suited to Hamburg’s cosmopolitanism.”
The summit of the heads of state and governments from the most important industrialised countries and emerging economies will take place in July 2017 in the hanseatic city of Hamburg. Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron were honorary guests at the traditional Matthaie-Mahl. Additional the Council of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will be held under the German presidency in Hamburg end of 2016.
Praise for European commitment
In the run-up to the EU summit on February 18-19, Hamburgs`s First Mayor Olaf Scholz had wished to send a clear signal with his invitation that Britain is and should remain an important EU member. The mayor welcomed both leaders, who signed the Golden Book of the City of Hamburg, in the Town Hall. During his address, Scholz welcomed Britain’s role in Europe and indicated to Cameron: “Your country has achieved plenty in an for Europe.” Britain had contributed a lot towards the EU’s further development, he added.
Examples were German reunification and the EU’s eastward expansion, Scholz said and noted irreplaceable British foreign and security policy. The ability of the EU “to stand on its own feet among the (small circle) of global giants” depends on effective foreign policy. He added: “That can only be achieved when the two European states, Britain and France, whose global politics finds expression through permanent seats on the Security Council, are there.”
The Matthiae-Mahl (Banquet) in Hamburg
The name of the historic honorary banquet, Matthaie-Mahl, refers to the date on or around which it has been traditionally held. The Matthias Day on February 24 in the Middle Ages was considered the start of spring and that of the financial year as well. It became customary to invite “representatives of Hamburg-friendly powers” to the banquet on Matthias Day. Resident of Hamburg and their guests have celebrated the historically documented banquet since 1356.
Hamburg – Germany`s International Powerhouse
The world is at home in Hamburg. For centuries, trade and shipping have ensured a cosmopolitan climate in this city on the water. More than 35,000 trading companies make Hamburg the leading foreign trade centre in Germany. More than 500 Chinese companies are located in Hamburg, making it China’s leading European base. The city has the world’s second-largest concentration of consulates, with almost 100 consulates, coming second after New York. Hamburg cultivates these manifold links with other international cities and towns through various networks and partnership programmes.
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