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Dear reader,
The reality of the economic centers in mainland China does not match the image that the trade war, sanctions, and justified criticism of human rights violations suggest: This is what Rudolf Scharping tells us in our latest CEO Talk with Frank Sieren. German companies operating in China continue to expect very good business proceedingsin the growth market. Scharping knows the situation in China especially well: Despite the pandemic, he spends a lot of time in the People’s Republic, where he runs a management consultancy and is therefore well connected. He sees both international relations and life and business in China with refreshing optimism.
Manufacturing companies currently perceive the availability of supplier parts and cheap raw materials as a real obstacle to their business. Christiane Kühl reports on an initiative at the junction of these two problems: China wants to become independent of chemical imports for their semiconductor productions. Many of the substances needed to manufacture chips are imported from the USA, Japan or Europe. Their strive for more independence in this regard is understandable. But news of this kind continues to confirm the growing trend of decoupling economies. In other words, it is exactly what Scharping warns against in our interview.
I wish you a pleasant and productive week!
Your
Finn Mayer-Kuckuk
CEO Talk
“Dividing the world technologically only pleases ideologues”
No other German ex-politician is more intensively involved in China than Rudolf Scharping. In an interview with Frank Sieren, Scharping pleads for “realism tied to our values” when it comes to dealing with China. They no longer slavishly follow Marxism-Leninism and have made enormous social progress. At the same time, none of the global challenges would be solved in a satisfactory way without involving China. This is why Scharping called for swift ratification of the EU’s CAI investment agreement with the People’s Republic.
Former SPD party chairman and minister of defense Rudolf Scharping (73)has founded a successful consulting company with a focus on China since his time in Gerhard Schröder’s cabinet: Rudolf Scharping Strategie, Beratung und Kommunikation AG (RSBK). Every year, he organizes a high-profile China congress that aims to be closer to companies than the Hamburg Summit. Even in times of Covid quarantines, Scharping spends a lot of time in China – most recently on another four-month stint. You can also watch the full German version of our CEO Talk in this video.
Disclaimer:This is an English translation of the CEO-Talk, which was conducted in German and is not considered an official translation by any party involved.
We currently find ourselves in a difficult political situation between Europe and China. What is going wrong?
CAI
CAI
Chinese Communist Party
Geopolitics
Geopolitics
Interview
Interview
Sanctions
Sanctions
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