如果说城市之间也有“友谊之桥”，那么天津和神户就是最早架起这座桥的城市之一。作为中外第一对友好城市，这对“老友”从1973年结缘以来，携手走过了半个多世纪的风风雨雨。不仅在经济、文化、教育等领域互帮互助，还共同见证了时代的变迁与彼此的发展。

天津和神户的友谊始于大海，两座城市都是重要的港口城市，面对浩瀚的海洋，它们通过贸易与航运联系在一起。但友谊不仅限于海洋，还深入到了城市的每一个角落。天津水上公园内的“神户园”静静诉说着两座城市的深厚情谊，而神户的唐人街则让人仿佛身处津门。

天津市与神户市结成友好城市 来源：日本神户国际交流中心天津代表处

1973年6月24日，天津与神户签署了友好城市协议，成为中国与日本城市间的首个友好城市关系。此举标志着一段超越国界与政治的特殊双边关系的开始。

On June 24, 1973, Tianjin and Kobe signed a friendship city agreement, the first of its kind between a Chinese and Japanese city, marking the beginning of a special bilateral bond that transcends national boundaries.

如今，天津港已成为全球最繁忙的港口之一，天津市在绿色技术和创新领域也不断取得进展，而神户市则通过与天津的合作，进一步推动了城市的发展。

Today, Tianjin Port is one of the busiest in the world, and Tianjin itself is pioneering green technology and innovation. Kobe, through its partnership with Tianjin, has also advanced its development.

天津神户友好城市关系建立25周年 来源：日本神户国际交流中心天津代表处

天津与神户的友谊不仅体现在官方的合作上，还深植于人民之间的交流。多年来，两市的学生、艺术家、科研人员以及普通市民都积极参与到各种形式的交流活动中，从而进一步加深了彼此的了解与尊重。

The friendship between Tianjin and Kobe extends beyond official agreements; it thrives on people-to-people exchanges. Over the years, students, artists, researchers and ordinary citizens from both cities have actively participated in various exchange activities, further deepening their mutual understanding and respect.

天津神户友好城市关系建立30周年 来源：日本神户国际交流中心天津代表处

现供职于日本国际交流基金会北京办事处的大冈夕伽子回忆道：2000年7月16日，作为中日联合保护研究工作的一部分，大熊猫“旦旦”来到神户王子动物园，引发了当地居民的“熊猫热”。后来，一对来自天津动物园的金丝猴也来到了神户，这让神户居民更加高兴了。

Yukako Ooka, now with the Beijing office of the Japan Foundation, recalled: “As part of joint Sino-Japanese conservation research efforts, the giant panda Dan Dan arrived at Kobe Oji Zoo on July 16, 2000, sparking fascination among the local community for this adorable creature. Later, the arrival of a pair of golden snub-nosed monkeys from Tianjin Zoo further delighted Kobe residents.” 

大熊猫“旦旦” 来源：视觉中国

“传统的友好城市关系往往被视为连接市民或特定领域的‘点和线’。然而，随着社交媒体的兴起，这些联系已发展成为更全面的关系，促成了多个领域的合作，”她说。

“Traditional friendship city relationships were often seen as ‘dots and lines’ connecting citizens or specific fields. However, with the rise of social media, these connections have evolved into more comprehensive relationships, enabling collaboration across multiple sectors,” she said.

2015年，大冈夕伽子（中）拜访宋庆龄幼儿园 图片来源：大冈夕伽子

“我认为，我们应该继续为‘神户精神’和‘天津精神’之间的合作创造机会，以互惠互利的方式增强两个城市和国家的吸引力。”

“I believe we should continue creating opportunities for collaboration between the ‘Kobe Spirit’ and the ‘Tianjin Spirit’, enhancing the appeal of both cities and countries in a mutually beneficial way,” Ooka added.

天津和神户取得了令人瞩目的成果，开创了中日地方政府合作的新模式。

天津外国语大学原校长修刚表示：“天津和神户作为中日友好城市的代表，树立了合作的典范。这不仅体现了两市人民之间的友好交流，也为促进中日相互理解指明了重要路径。”

“Tianjin and Kobe, as the representatives of Sino-Japanese friendship cities, have set a good example of collaboration,” Xiu Gang, former president of Tianjin Foreign Studies University, said. “This not only reflects friendly exchanges among people in the two cities, but also points out an important path for promoting mutual understanding between China and Japan.”

图片来源：视觉中国

图片来源：视觉中国

未来，天津和神户将继续加强在各个领域的合作，推动两市乃至两国人民之间的理解与信任，共同迎接更美好的明天。这段友谊不仅见证了过去半个世纪的辉煌，更将成为两市未来发展的坚实基石，带领天津与神户携手共创更加美好的未来。