High-ranking Chinese politicians at Hamburg Summit from November 26 to 27
The eighth “Hamburg Summit: China meets Europe”, organised by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, gets underway from November 26-27, 2018 in Hamburg / Germany. China’s Deputy Chinese Prime Minister Liu He will be guest of honour and main speaker while Margrethe Vestager, the EU Commissioner for Competition, is another guest of honour. The Chinese-European summit is leading economic conference on Sino-European affairs and will also highlight bilateral relations and links to the United States. Liu He visited Hamburg for the G20 summit in 2017. At present, Hamburg has more than 550 Chinese companies making the city the leading location in Europe.
Key figure in Chinese economic and fiscal policy
Liu is one of the key politicians in China’s State Council and is responsible for finance and economics. He is also a driving force behind China’s global trade relations and especially those with the U.S. He is also tasked with promoting the development of SMEs in China and adapting strategic economic policy.
Importance of links to Europe
Liu’s participation in the Hamburg Summit indicates the importance the Chinese government attaches to Europe as a strong economic partner amid global uncertainty. Political and economic challenges, Brexit and increasingly difficult trade relations with the U.S. are putting pressure on Sino-European relations. “In a difficult economic environment, both in China and in Europe, the Hamburg Summit brings both partners into talks with each other and helps explore further possibilities for co-operation, but also for discussing critical issues in economic relations,” said Tobias Bergmann, President of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. “We are therefore very pleased that China through the participation of Liu He, is again signalling great interest in our conference and in talks with Europe this year,” he added.
German policymakers to attend „Hamburg Summit“
The German Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Andreas Scheuer attends also the „Hamburg Summit” as a guest of honor and will speak at the closing of the conference on 27 November. Gerhard Schröder, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and Honorary Chairman of the Hamburg Summit will open the conference on 26 November, followed by a keynote speech by Victor Chu, CEO and Founder of First Eastern Investment Group in Hong Kong”. As an additional keynote speaker the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger has also confirmed his participation.
China continues to lead in Hamburg
The People’s Republic of China was Germany’s largest trading partner for the second time in 2017 with a trade volume of over EUR 185 billion. More than half is traded via the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Every third container in the Port of Hamburg arrives from China or is destined for the nation. In September, Hamburg hosted also the seventh China Time with over 150 economic, political and cultural events.
“Hamburg Summit” is the leading economic conference on Sino-European affairs
Initiated by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, the “Hamburg Summit” is the leading economic conference on Sino-European affairs. As a high-level platform for open dialogue between Europe and China, it is aimed at enhancing economic relations and mutual understanding. Participants include leading business representatives as well as policymakers and academics from China, Europe and other parts of the world. More information www.hamburg-summit.com.
