The Magnet China dialogue series, a community project of Bertelsmann Stiftung, Körber Foundation and Robert Bosch Foundation, discussed both the factors that drew China and Germany together, but also those that kept them apart.
Following a long period of icy silence, the People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Germany officially commenced their diplomatic relationship in 1972. In 2012, 40 years later, the two countries organized the German Year of Chinese Culture. In this context, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Körber Foundation and Robert Bosch Foundation held altogether 8 events, which discussed different layers of Sino-German relations. Topics ranged from the Euro crisis to China’s international political ambitions and the leadership change of the Chinese Communist Party.
Start-Up Event
“The Rise of China Changes the World – How Is Europe Tackling This Challenge?”
With Helmut Schmidt, former chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany; Gu Xuewu, professor, director, Center for Global Studies at the University of Bonn; and Frank Sieren (moderation).
- March 12, 2012:
"Growth without borders? China's Rise in the Global Economy”
With Wang Shuo, managing editor, Caixin Media; Jörg Wuttke, manager and chief representative, BASF China; and Dr. Sabine Stricker-Kellerer, senior China counsel, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (moderation). - April 3, 2012:
“Critic, Savior, Beneficiary? China's Role in the Euro Crisis”
With Dr. Olin Liu, head of Research, China International Capital Corporation (CICC), the leading investment bank, Beijing; Dr. Holger Schmieding, head economist, Berenberg Bank, Hamburg; Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP) in the European Parliament, Brussels; Dirk Heilmann, head economist, Handelsblatt, Düsseldorf (moderation). - June 26, 2012:
“Hegemony or Harmony? China's International Ambitions”
With Wang Yiwei, managing dean, Institute for International and Public Matters, Tongji University, Shanghai; Reinhard Bütikofer, deputy political group chairman of The Greens/European Free Alliance in the European parliament; and Dr. Thomas Paulsen, manager, International Politics, Körber Foundation (moderation). - Sept. 7, 2012:
“Green Economy – Risk or Opportunity for Germany and China?”
With Professor Klaus Töpfer, former German environmental minister and executive director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), currently director at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam; Stefan Riel, board member, WIRSOL Solar AG, Waghäusel, president WIRSOL Solar Technology, Beijing; and Professor Siwei Cheng, president, Center on Fictitious Economy & Data Science, Chinese Academy of Science, former deputy chairman, Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Moderated by Dr. Astrid Freyeisen, former ARD Radio correspondent, Shanghai, currently business editor, Bavarian Radio, Munich. - October 4, 2012:
“How Stable is China?”
With Cui Zhiyuan, professor, School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, Viola von Cramon, member of the German Bundestag for Bündnis 90/Die Grünen; and Rolf Cremer, EBS university for economy and law (moderation). - December 3, 2012:
“China's Digital Revolution”
With Li Yuan, managing editor, Wall Street Journal China, Beijing; Sven Hansen, foreign editor, Asia, tageszeitung (taz); and Jeanette Hofmann, director, Alexander von Humboldt Institut für Internet und Gesellschaft, Berlin (moderation). - December 6, 2012:
“New Leaders, new ways? China in Political Transition”
With Prof. Minxin Pei, professor, Claremont McKenna College, and non-resident senior fellow, German Marshall Fund of the US; Prof. Björn Alpermann, University of Würzburg; and Frank Sieren (moderation).
