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)