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| Twin city Gaziantep, 2005 |
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Calais, France
The partnership between Duisburg and Calais like the connection with Portsmouth is already very longstanding, and exists since 1964. It has been continually developed, and many Duisburg schools and sports associations maintain active contact with France.
Portsmouth, England
Duisburg and Portsmouth were twinned more as 50 years ago as one of the first Anglo-German city partnerships after the Second World War and foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1948, Captain Colin Hutchison was stationed in Duisburg as British Commandant. He had personal connections with Portsmouth and suggested that the two cities, both having suffered destruction during the war, should establish friendly relations with each other. On 11.07.1950, Portsmouth City Council deliberated on his suggestion and decided to approach the city of Duisburg with the proposal of becoming twin cities. The Lord Mayor at the time, Sir Denis Daley, accordingly wrote to Duisburg's Mayor August Seeling who accepted the proposal with thanks.
Vilnius/Lithuania
Duisburg and Vilnius were officially twinned on 10 October 1985. At that time, Vilnius was still part of the Soviet Union which was to collapse several years later. Lithuania like the other Baltic states Estonia and Latvia then became independent. The impetus to establish a partnership with Vilnius came from religious circles and was based on the same concept of reconciliation that initiated the partnerships with Portsmouth and Calais after the Second World War.
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