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German-Chinese Partnership for Innovation
11 October 2014
Rainer Appel (Bueso)—A broader agreement was signed in Berlin today, by Chinese Prime Minister Li Kequiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a Partnership for Innovation, envisaging about 100 initiatives and projects of all sizes, ranging from technology cooperation and transfer to civil society ones. The German government announced 30 economic deals totalling 2 billion euros, not so much in the classic industrial sectors, rather in the "sustainable" technology branches: water purification, insulation of buildings, emission-low construction, and anti-pollution systems. In the classical industrial sector, one agreement is on cooperation in the development and production of electro-cars. Other agreements are on cooperation in the agricultural sector, and a memorandum of understanding between the respective space agencies and science/research ministries. Furthermore: agreement on Chinese purchase of A320 aicraft from Airbus, plus a letter of intent on future Chinese purchase of A330 aircraft; extension of joiont venture agreement VW-FAW until 2041; agreement on expanded investments by Daimler and BAIC into Beijing Benz Automotive Company. Li, who, with Merkel, attended a Berlin session of the German-Chinese Economic Commission on Friday afternoon, will travel on from Berlin to Hamburg, to address, and take part in, a big Saturday German-Chinese congress attended by more than 500 representatives of German and Chinese industry and banking. One of the priorities of Chinese economic interests in Germany is technology transfer by the Germans. It is interesting to note that the German government, which so far has been rather reserved on the BRICS issue, apparently is now adapting to the new situation: Merkel is said in the media to have asked the Chinese for mediation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine issue. And German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, reluctant to discuss the BRICS so far, will attend the Hamburg congress on behalf of the German government. From Germany, the Chinese delegation will travel on to Russia, and then to Italy, to take part in the Oct. 16-17 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference held in Milan. |