Xi Jinping will attend Joe Biden's climate summit starting today. China wants to become climate neutral by 2060, but its climate record so far is very contradictory. While Beijing is investing heavily in renewable energy, it is also spending heavily on heavy industry. At the climate summit, Xi is expected to commit to a more ambitious climate strategy.
By Christiane Kuehl
Wolfgang Egger is one of the world's leading car designers. He has developed the Q7 SUV for Audi, the R8 sports car, and the first Audi E-tron concept. At Alfa Romeo, he was responsible for the design of the 8C Competizione, among other things. That could have been enough – but it wasn't enough for him. Now, in his late fifties, Egger is "in the middle of by far the most exciting task of my life," as he says. Since 2016, he has been chief designer at the southern Chinese manufacturer BYD. At the Shanghai auto show, Egger unveiled BYD's new EA-1 compact car, which is designed to rival Volkswagen's ID3, for example. A conversation about iconic compact cars, Chinese design, and what makes working in the People's Republic different from working in Europe.
By Frank Sieren
The protected domestic market is an ideal growth and innovation environment for Chinese firms. When they enter the global market, they have massive advantages, warn think tank ECFR and Rhodium Group in a joint study. Sectors such as solar, rail networks, and telecommunications are particularly threatened by Chinese competition. In the paper, the analysts point out concrete solutions on how the EU Commission can act against China's home advantage.
By Amelie Richter