A non-governmental body set up by Chinese and German
entrepreneurs is trying to forge closer business and cultural ties
between the two nations.
The Dsseldorf China Center (DCC) was set up in 2005 in
Dsseldorf, Germany to promote Sino-German social, economic and
cultural exchanges.
"Since it began operation, DCC has committed itself to
strengthening friendship between the two countries," said Liu Ying,
chief representative officer of DCC.
Dsseldorf is located in the center of Germany's industrial
heartland, making it an ideal place for Chinese companies to set up
their European headquarters.
State-owned companies like Baosteel, Anshan Iron and Steel,
Wuhan Iron and Steel, and telecommunications network provider
Huawei have all set up their European headquarters there.
"The city is generally considered a gateway to the German and
European markets," said Liu. "The government also provides
incentives for Chinese entrepreneurs who want to start businesses
there through its 'China-goes-to-Dsseldorf' policy, and by setting
up a service center dealing exclusively with Chinese affairs."
As the only Chinese-run organization in Germany promoting
cross-cultural cooperation, DCC has been active over the past three
years in helping Chinese companies to seek business opportunities
and forge partnerships in the area.
By organizing various business promotion activities and forums,
it brings together company representatives from both countries to
make way for potential cooperation.
China Week
It also holds China Week, a yearly event exhibiting the
cultural, social and economic landscape of China. The third event
was held in Dsseldorf at the end of last year, attracting more than
3,000 visitors from around Germany.
"As the gateway for German people to get firsthand experience of
the Chinese culture, China Week has become an ideal platform for
promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries," said
Liu.
"Based on that, we also try to bring forward the image of a
modern China that promises vast opportunities by holding lectures
and forums on the economic changes of the country."
But DCC is only one part of a bigger picture of economic and
cultural exchange taking place between the two countries.
Sino-German economic relations have developed rapidly over the
past few years. Known for their leadership in car manufacturing,
automotive and mechanical engineering, German companies have been
collaborating with their Chinese counterparts in various industrial
undertakings. One example is the 30-km Maglev line in Shanghai, for
which Siemens provided 20km of cable.
Cultural exchange is also on the agenda. "Germany and China -
Moving Ahead Together", a project showcasing Germany as an
innovative and dynamic country, was launched in Nanjing last year
and will travel to five other Chinese cities, finishing in Shanghai
during the World Expo in 2010.
DCC believes energy efficiency and sustainable development are
at the heart of cooperation opportunities for the two
countries.
"Major German companies like Allianz, BASF and Siemens all
exhibited their latest innovations in eco-friendly products during
the event. We want to extend this field of cooperation by arranging
a forum on environmental protection in Beijing this October.
Hopefully it can help promote the environment in China," Liu
said.
"At this year's China Week, which will go to four other cities
besides Dsseldorf, we'll engage more Chinese companies and make it
into a genuine cultural and business promotion fair."
More forums
Aside from partnering with the German government in promoting
the "Germany and China" project and bringing the yearly China Week
to more cities, DCC plans to hold two more forums this year to
boost business ties between the two countries.
A forum on the development of the Chinese financial market will
be held in Frankfurt, which has a high concentration of banks from
China as the country's financial institutions branch out around the
globe.
In Hamburg, the city with the largest port in Germany,
shipbuilding provides an ideal area of cooperation between the two
countries. Jiangnan Shipyard Corp and Yangtze Shipbuilding have
already established a close relationship with the city, Liu
said.
Cultural dialog is key to paving the way for broader integration
between the two nations, DCC believes.
"We cannot separate business from culture," said Liu. "With
different cultural backgrounds, people from the two countries need
to know more about each other to understand and respect their
different behaviors and attitudes, which is the first step to
reaching agreement."
"That's why at DCC we try to integrate cultural activities into
every aspect of our business promotion efforts. We want to make
sure that what we present to the German people is an open and
dynamic China that not only enjoys rapid economic growth, but also
breeds rich cultural heritage."
(China Daily January 31, 2008)
