German firms and city officials seek to boost trade with China

China and Germany will strengthen cooperative ties in manufacturing as industrial cities in both countries are seeking mutual investment opportunities.

This was apparent in the presence of German startup companies at the 2019 China (Guangdong) International Internet Plus Expo. Also, officials from Sino-German Industrial City Alliance member cities were eager for further partnership during their eighth plenary meeting.

Both events opened in Foshan in South China's Guangdong province on Wednesday. The alliance was founded in 2016 in Hanover with the secretariat based at the Sino-German Industrial Services Zone in Foshan.

A total of 32 European startup enterprises, mostly German ones, attended the expo. They showcased Internet Plus solutions, intelligent manufacturing, e-commerce platforms, technology commercialization, media communication, financial services and vocational education. They were looking for opportunities to unite with Chinese counterparts and to further penetrate the Chinese market.

The European exhibitors joined forces with the secretariat of the Sino-German Industrial City Alliance as well as the Sanlongwan Innovation Cluster, part of the Sino-German Industrial Services Zone, to occupy an exhibition area of 540 square meters during the expo.

Sanlongwan is designed to become an industrial hub and attract innovation resources and talent as a bonus for the settlement of high-tech German partners. It is now acting as a platform for Foshan to embrace the opportunities driven by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, according to Liu Yi, director-general of the administrative committee of the Sino-German Industrial Services Zone. Liu is also the secretary-general of the secretariat of the Sino-German Industrial Cities Alliance.

On Wednesday, Foshan Mayor Zhu Wei addressed the plenary meeting of the alliance. He said that as a key manufacturing base in China and a founding member of the alliance, Foshan has participated in the increased strategic partnership between China and Germany. It has set several examples of industrial cooperation between the two countries.

He cited Midea's merger and acquisition of the industrial robot manufacturer Kuka, the South China base of FAW-Volkswagen and the cooperation in the exhibition sector with Deutsche Messe.

"The success stories of industrial cooperation between Foshan and Germany are the epitome of the cooperative achievements among the alliance members. Other members are also making great contributions to Sino-German industrial development," he said.

The mayor added that Foshan hopes to join hands with other members for bilateral cooperation during the dialogue.

Zhu and Cui Jian, vice-mayor of Maoming, joined with Bernd Tischler, mayor of Bottrop, and Rolf-Georg Koehler, mayor of Gottingen, to discuss such topics as innovation of the manufacturing industry and industrial upgrading at the second Sino-German mayor dialogue.

All of them agreed on further developing the manufacturing industry and joining closer forces.

China and Germany are complementary economically and both countries attach great importance to innovation, said Koehler, mayor of Gottingen.

"I love to come to China, to Foshan. China outpaces Germany in innovation and industrial transformation," he said. "Both countries can learn from each other and drive economic development forward."

He said that Gottingen has two large consultancies focusing on high technologies such as 4G and 5G, which means great possibility for future cooperation and exchanges with Foshan companies.

During the meeting, the first annual report on Sino-German local economic cooperation was released.

Taicang, a city in East China's Jiangsu province, officially became a member of the city alliance. It tallies up the total membership to 43 cities.