To channel more high-end international resources to bolster Beijing’s high-quality economic development and the “two zones” initiative, the People-to-People Exchange Coordination Division of the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office invited David Merkle, Desk Officer for China of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, to visit the Beijing China-Germany Industrial Park on September 20.

Founded in 1964, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) set up its Beijing office in 1996 to enhance understanding between Chinese and German partners, foster dialogues on China-Europe bilateral relations, and facilitate academic, economic, sci-tech, and social exchanges between China and Germany.

At the China-Germany Plaza, representatives from TusPark Operation Management Co., Ltd. gave the visitors an overall introduction on the Industrial Park, including its planning and construction process, collaboration mechanism, the local industrial ecosystem, two-way communication channels, international environment, and layout.

During the meeting with the administrative committee of the China-Germany Industrial Park, officials expressed their desire to strengthen cooperation with KAS in new energy vehicles, the digital economy, biological medicine, green and low-carbon initiatives, and sustainable development, as well as to jointly organize academic forums. In addition, they also invited KAS to attend the Beijing China-Germany Forum for Industrial Cooperation and Development in November this year and help the Industrial Park to hold exchange events in Germany.

Mr. Merkle gave an overview of KAS and expressed a positive response to the invitation to the China-Germany Forum for Industrial Cooperation and Development. He highlighted that KAS operates offices in 15 out of the 16 states in Germany and invited officers from the Park’s German office to take part in the seminars and other events organized by KAS. KAS will also consider hosting academic forums in relevant disciplines and fields with the China-Germany Industrial Park. Meanwhile, Mr. Merkle said that he would leverage KAS’ resource strength and his experience of participating in the construction of the Qingdao Sino-German Eco-Park to support the development of the China-Germany Industrial Park and inject new impetus into the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.

Going forward, the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office will continue to play its role as a connector, and leverage international institutions in Beijing to channel more resources to key functional areas of the city. With such efforts, the Office can bring about more concrete progress in Beijing’s endeavor to become a center for international exchanges, contributing its share to the capital’s development in the new era.

(David Merkle, Desk Officer for China of KAS, visits the China-Germany Plaza)

(Meeting between the two sides)