There is no longer a single dominant player in the global economy; internationally active companies and research institutions are experiencing a world with multiple centers of power. Moreover, geopolitical tensions and trade wars are causing once-reliable supply chains to become fragile. Against this backdrop, it makes sense to focus attention on China, as the country, with its economy, is one of the largest economic powers in the new world order in terms of geopolitical weight, size, and technological expertise. It has long since transformed itself from a mere sales and manufacturing hub into an economic region with high innovation and technological competence; Chinese companies are now considered leaders in future-oriented sectors such as battery technology, autonomous driving, and robotics, and the same applies to areas like artificial intelligence, 5G, and digital platforms. With its supply of rare earth elements and strategically important raw materials such as lithium and graphite, China is also an attractive partner when it comes to securing resources. For companies involved, gaining business insights into these developments and potential collaborations with Chinese partners in these fields has strategic value.
Germany, and Thuringia in particular, already enjoys very close ties with China. Currently, around 5,200 German companies, employing 1.1 million people, are active in China, with 90 percent of them producing directly for the Chinese market. Numerous DAX-listed companies generate a third or more of their revenue in the People's Republic. In addition to large corporations, primarily from the automotive, mechanical engineering, and chemical sectors, many medium-sized enterprises are also active there. For Thuringia, China is the most important trading partner, being both its primary supplier market and its fourth most important export market. This forms the basis of the delegation trip, which will be led by Thuringia's Minister of Economic Affairs, Colette Boos-John. The overall aim of the trip is to expand and deepen relations between China and Thuringia on an economic, scientific, and political level. Thuringia will present itself as an attractive business location, with representatives of the Free State engaging with Chinese investors and offering support for Chinese investments in Thuringia. The business delegation will benefit from targeted company visits and business matchmaking, establishing numerous Contact with business representatives from the People's Republic. The focus is on the economic and technological fields of robotics and intelligent manufacturing, automotive, optics/optoelectronics/sensors, digital transformation/artificial intelligence, and green environmental technologies. The current planning includes the following stops: Beijing with numerous Contact to government representatives as well as companies such as Alibaba, Lenovo and Baidu, Shanghai with diverse Contact to innovative and globally significant companies as well as Ningde The visit will include a tour of the headquarters of battery cell manufacturer CATL – this global corporation made the largest single investment by a company in Thuringia since German reunification in recent years, and Minister of Economic Affairs Boos-John and the delegation are very pleased to accept the company's invitation. Excursions to interesting business locations in Changzhou, Taicang, and Suzhou will also be offered.
Information about the delegation trip to China can be found here: Delegation trip to the People's Republic of China 2025.
