The Jiangsu-Germany Dialogue 2021, themed with opportunities, challenges, and new dynamics, convened at the Sino-German (Changzhou) Innovation Industrial Park (SGIP) on December 21.

Fei Gaoyun, executive vice governor of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, Shi Mingde, president of the China-Germany Friendship Association, Wu Ken, Chinese ambassador to Germany, Pit Heltmann, consul general of Germany in Shanghai, and Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, North Rhine-Westphaliam’s Minister of Economic Affairs, and Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Economic Affairs, delivered speeches via video.

Yang Jing, deputy director of Jiangsu Foreign Affairs Office, hosted the opening ceremony.

Chen Zhiliang, vice mayor of Changzhou, delivered a speech to promote the city of Changzhou.

During the roundtable, participants exchanged ideas on two-way investment, new energy, vocational education, and other topics at the event.

According to the latest statistics, the trade volume between Jiangsu and German businesses reached about 26.6 billion US dollars in 2020, accounting for 14 percent of the trade volume between China and Germany.

Changzhou, the host city of the event, is home to over 200 domestic “hidden champion� companies. In recent years, SGIP � the industrial park co-established by Changzhou and its German sister city Essen � has increased in size and attracted over 900 million euros investment in automotive, healthcare, photovoltaic energy, new materials, artificial intelligence, and other high-tech industries.

Over 300 participants attended this event. Representatives of Chinese and German companies shared their investment experiences in Jiangsu and their future plans.

The event also saw the unveiling of new joint ventures and cooperation initiatives, such as the Sino-German Training & Certification Center for High-Skilled Professionals and an investment agreement between China Lithium Battery Technology and Drees & Sommer.

The Jiangsu-Germany Dialogue 2021 successfully concluded with ten newly signed cooperation agreements.