Hamburg Summit: China meets Europe

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The Hamburg Summit: China meets Europe is a high-level conference on European-Chinese economic relations that takes place every two years in Hamburg. The "Hamburg Summit", first held in 2004 by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, sees itself as a platform for open dialogue between Europe and China and is intended to improve economic relations.

history

In discussions between former Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt , Hamburg mayors and the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce , the idea for the "Hamburg Summit: China meets Europe" arose in order to intensify the economic and political dialogue between Europe and China and to further advance economic relations. Hamburg as the venue for the conference was particularly suitable due to the Hanseatic city's strong economic ties with the People's Republic of China. As the headquarters of over 550 Chinese companies, Hamburg is one of the most important locations for Chinese companies in Europe, with port-oriented companies ( COSCO , China Shipping) and branches of Chinese industrial groups having their European headquarters in Hamburg ( Baosteel , Sinosteel) or Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) . With the Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), two of the largest Chinese banks are also represented with branches in the Hanseatic city. In addition, around 700 Hamburg companies maintain business relationships with China. But Hamburg also plays a central role in traffic to China for Northern, Central and Eastern Europe, because Hamburg is a transit station and distribution center for the majority of imports from China for onward transport to the new EU accession countries, but also to Russia and Western and Southern Europe . Around a third of the container traffic in the Port of Hamburg is handled with China.

2004

The first “Hamburg Summit” took place in 2004. In the presence of former Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, over 350 decision-makers from politics, business and science discussed the status of Sino-European relations. Guest of Honor of the People's Republic of China was the then Deputy. Prime Minister Zeng Peiyan .

2006

Wen Jiabao , Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, was already present as the guest of honor at the second “Hamburg Summit” , who emphasized the great importance of the meeting. Singapore's state founder Lee Kuan Yew and former German Chancellors Helmut Kohl and Helmut Schmidt also spoke .

2008

The third “Hamburg Summit” took place in 2008 after the German-Chinese “Ice Age”, which came about in September 2007 as a result of a meeting between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Dalai Lama . The “Hamburg Summit” in autumn 2008 was the first occasion for a high-ranking Chinese politician to visit Germany and thus the first significant rapprochement after the irritations. The guests of honor in 2008 were Frank-Walter Steinmeier , then Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor, Zhang Dejiang , deputy. Prime Minister of the PR China, as well as the then EU Commissioner László Kovács .

2010

More than 400 participants came to the fourth "Hamburg Summit", the content of which was strongly influenced by the economic and financial crisis that was believed to have been overcome and its impact on Sino-European economic relations. The General Secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Ma Kai, the German Foreign Minister and then Vice Chancellor Guido Westerwelle , and the Vice President of the European Commission and Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia were welcomed as political guests of honor .

2012

The fifth “Hamburg Summit” took place from November 28th to 30th, 2012 in the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. At the opening of the fifth “Hamburg Summit: China meets Europe”, the Chinese Science Minister Wan Gang , the then German Research Minister Annette Schavan and Georgios Papastamkos , Vice President of the European Parliament, gave speeches to explain their views on European-Chinese economic relations. In six panel discussions the state of the world economy, trade relations between the EU and China, the liberalization of the Chinese currency, smart cities, securing raw materials and strategies for Europe and China in a multipolar world were discussed. However, the focus of all the speeches and discussions was the effects of the change of power in China and the sovereign debt crisis in Europe. The highlight for many participants was the discussion between former Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and the former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger , who discussed the role of China, Europe and the USA in the global power structure. 440 participants from 21 nations and 200 press representatives registered for the “Hamburg Summit” 2012.

2014

The sixth “Hamburg Summit” took place on October 10 and 11, 2014 in the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. The guests of honor included the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang , the Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel , the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz , the then EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and the Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. In his closing speech, Prime Minister Li emphasized how important cooperation with Europe is for China's implementation of its reform program and thus set decisive impulses for further bilateral cooperation. In addition to the high-ranking guests of honor, a total of 612 conference participants took part in the sixth “Hamburg Summit”.

2016

The seventh “Hamburg Summit” took place on November 23 and 24, 2016 in the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. With Liu Yandong , Vice Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Vice President of the European Commission, Jyrki Katainen , high-ranking government representatives and around 560 participants from 14 nations took part in the conference.

2018

The eighth “Hamburg Summit: China meets Europe” took place on November 26th and 27th, 2018 in the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. Participants included Liu He , Vice Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China , Margrethe Vestager , EU Commissioner for Competition and Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer .

Content

The “Hamburg Summit” brings together executives from politics, business and science who are supposed to discuss current topics and challenges of the Sino-European economic dialogue. Especially in times of the global economic crisis that broke out immediately after the “Hamburg Summit” in 2008, or the current sovereign debt crisis, forums such as the “Hamburg Summit” are needed to maintain and intensify the dialogue with China on a politically neutral level.

Recurring topics at the “Hamburg Summit” are the role of China and Europe in the world economy, trade relations between China and the EU, bilateral investments between the EU and questions of sustainability and environmental protection. It is not only about the big theoretical questions, but also, due to the large number of practitioners from the economy, often about concrete solutions such as B. the “Smart City” concepts.

Two awards will be presented at the “Hamburg Summit”. The “China-Europe Friendship Award”, which was presented in 2014 to the oldest co-host and partner, the China Federation of Industrial Economics (CFIE) and which was awarded to Gerhard Schröder, Federal Chancellor a. D. and Honorary Chairman of the “Hamburg Summit”. In 2014, Rainer Feurer, Head of Group Strategy and Planning, Environment of the BMW Group, received the "China-Europe Sustainability Award": The automobile manufacturer has set new standards for sustainable production in the People's Republic. In 2016 the Chint Group received the "China Europe Sustainability Award".

There has been close cooperation with the China Federation of Industrial Economics (CFIE), which acts as a co-host and brings high-ranking business delegations to Hamburg, since 2004. Since 2010 there has also been close cooperation with the China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS).

Previous speakers

Representative of the People's Republic of China

  • 2004: Zeng Peiyan , then Deputy Prime Minister
  • 2006: Wen Jiabao, then Prime Minister
  • 2008: Zhang Dejiang, then Deputy Prime Minister
  • 2010: Ma Kai , then Secretary General of the State Council
  • 2012: Wan Gang , Vice Chairman of the 11th People's Political Consultative Conference, Minister of Science and Technology of the PRC
  • 2016: Liu Yandong, Deputy Prime Minister
  • 2014: Li Keqiang , Prime Minister

Representative of the European Union

Representative of the German Federal Government:

  • 2006: Michael Glos , then Minister of Economic Affairs
  • 2008: Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor at the time
  • 2010: Guido Westerwelle , then Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor
  • 2012: Annette Schavan , then Federal Minister for Education and Research
  • 2014 and 2016: Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister

Representatives of other governments:

  • 2004, 2006, 2008: Lee Kuan Yew, Minister Mentor, Republic of Singapore (via satellite)
  • 2008: Robert Hawke AC, former Australian Prime Minister
  • 2008: Anne Marie Idrac, then French State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Industry
  • 2008: Skeikha Lubna al-Qasimi, Foreign Trade Minister of the United Arab Emirates
  • 2010: Lord Heseltine CH, former Deputy Prime Minister of England
  • 2012: Henry Kissinger , former US Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
  • 2014: Xavier Bettel , Prime Minister, Luxembourg
  • 2014: Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister

Business representatives:

  • Lutz Bethge, Managing Director, Montblanc International
  • Martin Brudermüller, deputy Chairman of the Board of Management, BASF SE ; China spokesman for the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business
  • Victor Chu, Chairman, First Eastern Investment Group
  • Thomas Enders , Chief Executive Officer, EADS
  • Jürgen Fitschen , Co-CEO, Deutsche Bank AG ; Chairman, East Asian Association
  • Guo Guangchang , Executive Director & Chairman of the Board, Fosun Group
  • He Dongdong, Vice President, Sany Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
  • Axel C. Heitmann , former CEO, LANXESS AG
  • Peter Löscher , Chairman, Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business ; CEO, Siemens AG
  • Hubertus Troska, Board Member of Daimler AG; Chairman & CEO, Daimler Greater China Ltd.,
  • Lu Jianzhong, President, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd (ZPMC)
  • Capt. Xu Lirong, Director and President, China Shipping (Group) Company
  • Dahai Yu, Executive Board member, Evonik Industries AG
  • Xu Lejiang, Chairman, Baosteel Group Corporation
  • Yang Yuanqing , CEO, Lenovo Group Ltd.
  • Zhang Jianwei, Executive Director & President, SINOTRANS Ltd.
  • Song Hailiang, Vice President, China Communications Construction Company Ltd .; Chairman, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (ZPMC)
  • Li Yunpeng, Director of Board and President, China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO)
  • Zhou Zhongshu, Chairman, Minmetals Corporation
  • Zhang Xiaogang PhD, President, Ansteel Group Corporation

Representatives of institutions:

Web links