Baden-Württemberg Investment Promotion Event and Reception Dinner in Beijing
On June 30, 2024, Baden-Württemberg hosted an investment promotion event followed by a reception dinner at the Kempinski Hotel in Beijing’s Yansha Center. The event brought together representatives from government agencies, investment promotion organizations, and leading companies from both China and Germany to discuss investment opportunities in Baden-Württemberg and broader prospects for Sino-German business cooperation.
The event opened with remarks from Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economics, Labour, and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg, and Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). Dr. Hoffmeister-Kraut highlighted the longstanding partnerships between Baden-Württemberg and the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu and Liaoning, as well as with the city of Beijing. She recalled the 30th anniversary of the partnership with Jiangsu, celebrated last year in Nanjing, and noted the upcoming 40th anniversary of ties with Liaoning. Emphasizing Baden-Württemberg’s strong record in innovation, she pointed to its top global ranking for regional innovation, world-class research environment, highly skilled workforce, and dynamic business ecosystem. She specifically encouraged Chinese companies from sectors such as green technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and biotechnology to explore opportunities in the state.
Ren Hongbin underscored the important role that economic cooperation has played in Sino-German relations over the past five decades. He called for further collaboration in areas such as automotive components, mechanical engineering, new energy, and smart manufacturing, and invited German companies to participate in the third China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo in Beijing this July.
Regional perspectives were also provided by several local representatives. Wang Rongfei, Deputy Director of Jiangsu’s Development and Reform Commission, reviewed the thirty-year partnership between Jiangsu and Baden-Württemberg. He noted that Jiangsu is home to over 2,000 German companies, of which 40 percent are from Baden-Württemberg, while more than 300 Chinese companies—including 12.5 percent from Jiangsu—are now operating in Baden-Württemberg. He cited examples such as Bosch and Quanfeng as models of successful collaboration, and emphasized Jiangsu’s efforts to further improve the business environment for German firms and deepen industrial and supply chain partnerships.
Li Jun, Deputy Director of the Liaoning Department of Commerce, presented Liaoning’s strong industrial base, highlighting major investments by companies such as BMW and Saudi Aramco. He pointed to the close cooperation with Baden-Württemberg since 1984, and called for continued collaboration in the automotive and equipment manufacturing sectors. Li also extended invitations to upcoming economic events in Liaoning.
Meng Fanyong, Deputy Director of the Beijing Investment Promotion Service Center, reiterated Beijing’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Baden-Württemberg. He described Beijing’s role as a hub for international exchange and innovation, and outlined plans to leverage the city’s resources to support new business partnerships and investment projects.
A central highlight of the event was the presentation by Cornelia Frank, Head of Internationalization and Investment at Baden-Württemberg International. She outlined the state’s position as one of Europe’s leading innovation hubs, noting that Baden-Württemberg invests 5.6 percent of its GDP in research and development—the highest rate in Europe—and reported a GDP of €650.2 billion in 2024, accounting for 15 percent of Germany’s total economic output. Frank detailed the region’s extensive research landscape, with more than 70 universities and 100 non-university research institutions offering over 3,500 academic programs. She also pointed to the state’s strong patent record—137 patents per 100,000 inhabitants—and the presence of over 7,000 international companies, including industry leaders such as IBM and Roche. She identified key sectors including automotive, mechanical engineering, and life sciences, as well as strong growth in emerging areas like artificial intelligence and environmental technology.
Li Baiwen, Manager of Investment and Promotion at the Baden-Württemberg Representative Office in China, presented the comprehensive support services available to Chinese companies investing in the region.
Ma Li, Vice President of the China International Exhibition Center Group, introduced the China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo as a major platform for global supply chain and industrial cooperation, encouraging German companies to participate.
The program concluded with a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Lukas Bretz, Dean of the China Research Institute at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Executives from Chinese companies, including Guo Chaoshe, Vice President of Biocytogen, and Shi Zheng, General Manager of Wodeer Technology, shared their experiences with market entry, localization, technology collaboration, and talent management in Europe.
The subsequent reception dinner offered additional opportunities for networking and in-depth conversation. The event further strengthened dialogue and cooperation between Baden-Württemberg and its Chinese partners and set the stage for future business collaboration in an increasingly dynamic international environment.