Shanghai skyline at night
Harry Soremski

Network Hesse-China: Building bridges across continents

Bringing companies, decision-makers and stakeholders from different cultures together at one table: This is the claim that Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel makes of itself as the project sponsor of the Hesse-China network. Over several decades, the networkwhich consists of both German and Chinese representatives, steadily grown and today offers a wide branched network of contacts in both countries.

Dynamic German-Chinese trade relations

Engineer shows gearboxes for interested people
Harry Soremski

Since the 1990s, the German-Chinese trade relations have developed stronglyThis began with the increasing interest of German companies in the Chinese market for production and sales and China's interest in German technology. China's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001 facilitated bilateral trade and promoted German direct investment. Germany is an important trading partner for China in Europe, with a significant exchange of goods such as machinery and electronics. Strategic partnerships, reinforced by bilateral agreements and the Belt and Road Initiative, have opened up new opportunities but also brought challenges. Current developments emphasize the importance of technology transfer, digital technologies and sustainable development, despite geopolitical tensions.

Hesse-China network enjoys great trust

In China, the Network of great trustwhen it comes to mediating mutual interests and moderating between individual partners. Agreements have been concluded with a number of cities and provinces that provide for a Long-term cooperation and mutual assistance include. Starting with a select group of companies, well-known companies, universities and scientific institutes in Germany have joined the network over the decades and continue to do so.

Today, the Hesse-China network is one of the liveliest communities of its kind between the partners from Germany and the partners in China.

Logo of the Hesse-China Network

Formats of the Hesse-China Network

Spectators listen to lecture in a hall

Hesse-China network visits Kassel

© Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel

Group photo in front of a poster display

Chinese delegation visit to Kassel

© Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel

Moderator and guest during a lecture with a digital campfire in the background

Fireside evening format and specialist lecture

© Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel

Whether convivial evening with Lectures or Company tours in China: The formats of the Hesse-China network promote exchange between German-European and Chinese partners. The trusting, joint exchange is promoted by Delegation trips, Fireside evenings and specialist events. They offer targeted platforms for dialog, Cooperation and intercultural collaboration.

Discover more network offers

Further information on the Hesse-China network

In this dynamic environment, the Hesse-China network was in 2003 by the former Hessian Minister of Economics Alfred Schmidt (term of office 1987-1991) and the Director of the Institute of Civil Engineering and Key Technology - Tongji University Shanghai, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. ZENG Deshun founded.

In the year In 2017, the network In view of the growing breadth of topics new on and entered the next phase of innovative and substantive cooperation with a new structure. After 14 successful years as the German president of the Hesse-China network, former Minister of State Alfred Schmidt handed over the further development of the content to the former university president, Prof. Dr. Rolf-Dieter Postlep. On the Chinese side, Prof. Dr. Ing. habil. ZENG Deshun acts as President China for the Hesse-China Network. As the founding director of the Institute of Civil Engineering Key Technology, his office is located at Tongji University.

The main task of the network is to provide high-quality contacts both in Germany and China. This helps to find targeted solutions for individual requirements. The network thus pursues the following goals:

  • Promotion of economic and cultural cooperation
  • Networking between companies, universities and institutions in both countries
  • Supporting companies and institutions with activities in the partner country
  • Arranging contacts for German companies, universities, scientific and cultural institutions and support for market development in China
  • Assistance for Chinese investors in Germany

The Advisory Board of the Hesse-China Network is made up of the partners and sponsors and elects a spokesperson. The advisory board meets once a year or on special occasions. It monitors the finances, evaluates the work carried out and makes suggestions for the content and strategic tasks.

The advisory board on the Chinese side has the task of supporting the Chinese presidium around our president in Shanghai Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. ZENG Deshun in his activities and work for the Hesse-China network. The various personal and professional relationships of the Chinese advisory board members in the fields of business, science, technology, justice and administration complement Prof. Zeng's wonderful network structures.

With Contact persons of the Hesse-China network are spread all over the world. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the contact persons listed. On the German side, we are at your disposal as Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel.

Get in touch with us!

Portrait photo of Nicole Holzapfel

Your contact person|f

Nicole Holzapfel
0561 70733-57
holzapfel@wfg-kassel.de

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