Berlin’s partnership with Buenos Aires dates back to 19 May 1994.
The two cities’ cooperation is most visible in cultural exchanges, with many long-standing exchanges between opera houses and theaters, between musicians and filmmakers, and in dance, visual arts, and other areas of the arts. Tango is at home on the banks of the Río de la Plata and fascinates Berliners, too – our city is now one of the world’s tango capitals.
In 2004, a cultural dialogue in both cities marked the ten-year anniversary of the city partnership between Berlin and Buenos Aires. Each city presented itself in the other with countless joint projects, productions, and exhibitions. A “Museum Night” modeled on the one held in Berlin was introduced in Buenos Aires as part of this dialogue; this hugely popular event has since become an integral part of the Buenos Aires cultural calendar. Many of the contacts made back then are still strong today.
Along with traditional areas of city partnership cooperation like urban development, environmental protection, transportation, scientific and academic collaboration, and youth encounters, there has been a lot of development in the areas of renewable energy and mobility. Issues like social integration and citizens’ participation are also playing a growing role. By exchanging best practices and with joint seminars and conferences, the partner cities use their experience to benefit each other. At issue are no longer simply technical solutions; rather, the cities are interested in the ability to meet the challenges of the future and in social and cultural transformation.
In 2018, Buenos Aires and Paris launched the Urban 20 initiative (U20), of which Berlin is also a member. U20 brings together the biggest and most important cities in the G20, pools their needs and concerns, and contributes these to the G20 process.
Our cooperation also attaches special importance to the theme of urban cultures of memory, teaching memory, and questions related to identity and exile. Berlin and Buenos Aires are fellow UNESCO Cities of Design, and the two cities both inspire each other and hold a powerful attraction for creative talents of many different kinds. Young creative professionals from the two cities present their products and ideas at international design, fashion, and music festivals.
In 2014, the city partnership celebrated its 20th anniversary, and a series of events and activities in different areas marked this milestone in Berlin and Buenos Aires. The creative industries, startups, culture, and tourism are key economic sectors for both cities, and these were highlighted in our anniversary year. That was also true of our climate partnership, which is aimed at exchanging expertise within specific projects to find innovative solutions that help safeguard urban quality of life. Berlin and Buenos Aires have been involved in a climate partnership since 2012. This partnership has already carried out several projects in the area of “energy management in public buildings.”
Events were held in both cities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Berlin – Buenos Aires city partnership in 2019.
From 2020 to 2022, our exchange took place largely online. Representatives from Berlin and Buenos Aires met in a number of multilateral and bilateral videoconferences to discuss urban issues like sustainable mobility, data management, and green infrastructure.
In March 2022, Head of Government Horacio Rodríguez Larreta of Buenos Aires visited Berlin and met with Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey to discuss current urban challenges and future areas of cooperation. He also visited Berlin companies to learn more about the “dual system” that combines on-the-job training with vocational school.
