- CEO Talk with Feng Xingliang – Specialist for Chinese investments in Germany
- Beijing presents ‘white paper on democracy’
- Response to Baerbock interview
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- EU diplomat: CAI unlikely
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Is the first trouble between the Chancellor’s Office and the Foreign Ministry over China policy already brewing? Olaf Scholz seems to want to continue Angela Merkel’s cooperative course. Annalena Baerbock wants to set a somewhat more confrontational tone. But if Germany’s two highest representatives speak with two different voices they will be taken less seriously.
Baerbock has already openly stated her foreign policy ideas in a much-noticed interview. Scholz’s commitment to continuity towards Xi Jinping has only become known thanks to an indiscretion. So it is too early to worry. China has already made its first move. The embassy in Berlin is criticizing Baerbock for her remarks.
What it means not to have a common ground for talks was demonstrated by Beijing at the weekend with the presentation of its “White Paper on Democracy”. This is a reaction to the convening of a “democracy summit” to be held in Washington this week. The propagandists of the People’s Republic aim to take the interpretative sovereignty over the concept of democracy. They point to chaos and populism in parliamentary democracies and extol the virtues of the Chinese style of harmonious involvement of the people in all processes. Michael Radunski has taken a look at the fine details of their arguments.
Hardly anyone knows the reasons why Germany is and remains attractive for Chinese companies better than Feng Xingliang. He was the long-time head of the European branch of Chinese construction machinery manufacturer Sany in Germany before becoming the head of the representative offices of NRW.Global Business in Beijing and Guangzhou, responsible for attracting Chinese investments in Germany’s federal state NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia). In today’s CEO Talk with Frank Sieren, he explains what strengths continue to make Germany a favorable location.
Have a pleasant week!
Ning Wang
CEO Talk
‘Germany remains attractive for China’
Feng Xingliang is an expert in bringing Chinese investors to Germany: He heads the representative offices of NRW.Global Business in Beijing and Guangzhou – and North Rhine-Westphalia attracts almost a third of the investments that flow from China to Germany. The 57-year-old has brokered a large part of these himself. Feng gained experience with German hidden champions and as European head of Sany, China’s largest construction machinery manufacturer. In 2009, the then CDU Minister-President Juergen Ruettgers recruited him for Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia.
Feng talks with China.Table about the appeal of Germany as a business location for Chinese companies and about the mistakes Chinese companies make there. He continues to see a great openness among the German economy to invest in China. The interview was conducted by Frank Sieren. You can watch the full German interview here.
Disclaimer: This interview has been translated into English and is not considered an official translation by any party involved in the interview.
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