The Qingdao-Germany Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange took place on Oct 21 in Düsseldorf, Germany, gathering local government officials, business leaders, and investment representatives from both countries. The event focused on collaborating in smart equipment, intelligent home appliances, high-end chemicals, and new materials.

Qingdao Mayor Ren Gang emphasized that Germany is Qingdao's largest European trade partner and a major source of foreign investment, with over 400 German projects investing more than $2.7 billion in the city. He noted that companies like Lanxess, ThyssenKrupp, Siemens, Bosch, and Volkswagen have become integral to Qingdao's economy, significantly contributing to its high-quality development.

Ren reiterated Qingdao's commitment to strengthening cooperation with German partners to bring new momentum to bilateral trade.

Michael Schumann, chairman of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, praised Qingdao's openness and innovative spirit, reflecting the vitality and confidence of China's economy. He highlighted the strong synergy between Germany's technological expertise and China's market potential, particularly in green transformation and technological innovation. Schumann urged for enhanced cooperation to tackle global challenges through stable industrial value chains and open markets.

A special representative from North Rhine-Westphalia Global Business highlighted the region's role as a key gateway for Chinese companies entering Europe. She expressed eagerness to expand collaboration with Qingdao in green energy, sustainable development, and digital transformation.

Stefan Viessing, CEO of Siempelkamp's service business, shared the success of their Qingdao base, established in 2014, which combines German engineering with Chinese innovation.

Participants agreed to uphold openness, mutual trust, and win-win cooperation, deepening bilateral exchanges for sustained economic growth.

Qingdao and Germany cultivate a robust and deepening economic partnership, with Germany being Qingdao's key trade partner and investor in Europe. [Photo/IC]