Next week, a Chinese delegation led by Premier Li Qiang will hold meetings with Germany's top CEOs as part of their visit to Europe. This visit aims to enhance bilateral ties between the two
countries, even as Germany pursues a strategy to reduce economic reliance on Beijing.
The meetings highlight the complex dilemma faced by German companies, which heavily depend on the Chinese market for selling their goods and sourcing materials. This puts them in a challenging position as they try to align with the government's objective of diversifying away from China.
Scheduled for Monday, June 19, a meeting between Premier Li and a group of German and Chinese CEOs will take place. Confirmed participants include CEOs from prominent companies such as Mercedes-Benz, SAP, Siemens Energy, and Volkswagen division Audi.
Mercedes-Benz, whose top shareholders include China's Beijing Automotive Group Co and Geely chairman Li Shufu, will discuss topics such as their commitment to China and the progress made in opening the Chinese market post-Covid-19 pandemic.
Siemens CEO Roland Busch, who also chairs the Asia-Pacific Committee of German business, will join an event featuring Premier Li, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Economy Minister Robert Habeck on June 20.
The meetings serve as a crucial platform for dialogue and collaboration between Chinese and German business leaders, contributing to the strengthening of economic ties between the two nations in the face of evolving global dynamics. Photo by Terence Ong, Wikimedia commons.