Germany guest of honor at intl cooperation event

Southwest China's Sichuan province is deepening cooperation with Germany, thanks to the 16th Western China International Fair held in Chengdu, the provincial capital, earlier this month.

Germany is the guest of honor at this year's event. German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel led a delegation of nearly 500 members to the fair, according to organizers. The German pavilion at the fair covered a total area of 2,040 square meters, with 80 German exhibitors taking part.

A series of activities related to Germany took place during the fair, including a China-Germany economic forum and 10 other activities, such as the "German Night" reception, a Sino-German forum on intelligent manufacturing and the Industry 4.0 strategy, a Sino-German energy efficiency technology forum and the Bavaria Forum.

More than 350 delegates from both countries attended the China-Germany Economic Forum. The two sides vowed to enhance economic ties.

"The event offers a perfect chance for German companies to get to know the investment and development opportunities in Sichuan and western China," said Gabriel, adding that he looks forward to deeper cooperation between Chinese and German companies.

Gabriel visited Sichuan as a tourist 12 years ago. He said he was deeply impressed by the great changes and fast development of the province.

He said there are two key features that impress him about Sichuan: The speed of economic growth in Sichuan nears double digits and the population exceeds 80 million, which is about the same as the German population.

Great changes in Sichuan reflect the opportunities created by China's go-west campaign, and he would like German companies to involve themselves in the rise of western China, Gabriel said.

Gabriel suggested that Sichuan could have more cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany.

"Large companies represent Germany's industrial strength, while numerous SMEs are the source for the German economy," he said.

German SMEs have great capacity in innovation and they could provide an endless source for cooperation between Germany and Sichuan, he said.

Gabriel also encourages more Chinese companies to invest in Germany.

"Germany is an open market, with no restrictions except for matters concerning security interests," he said. "Germany will treat Chinese investors as it does German companies."

Sichuan and Germany agreed to several big cooperation projects during the event.

A Sino-German innovative industrial cooperation park, which covers a total area of 22 square kilometers, was inaugurated in Chengdu Science City, a new-technology, industry and business hub in the Sichuan Tianfu New Area.

Liu Yutong, director of the investment services bureau at the Chengdu administrative committee of the Tianfu New Area, said the Sino-German innovative industrial cooperation park is the main platform for Sichuan to conduct innovative cooperation with Germany.

It has planned 10 industrial zones, covering fields such as scientific research innovation, medical care, intelligent manufacturing, and international trade and business.

Six companies signed cooperation agreements with the Chengdu administrative committee of Tianfu New Area and Chengdu Tianfu New Area Investment Group Co Ltd at the inauguration ceremony, with a total investment of 4 billion yuan ($590 million).

The cooperation projects mainly focus on advanced manufacturing, environmental protection, research and development, and high-end services.

BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd will cooperate with Global Carsharing to offer electric car timeshare leasing services to residents in Tianfu New Area.

BMW China plans to provide 100 BMW i3 vehicles, and customers in the Tianfu New Area will be able to rent the cars via an app on their smart phones.

Germany-based ALBA Group PLC and Co KC, a recycling and environmental services company, will cooperate with local companies to of er services in the Tianfu New Area, including water treatment, solid waste disposal, river improvement and a "sponge city" project.

Axel Schweitzer, chairman of ALBA Group, said the group has established a joint venture with Chengdu Techcent Environment Industry Co Ltd, which is reportedly the largest cooperation between German and Chinese companies in the field of environmental protection.

The projects in the Tianfu New Area will be implemented by the joint venture, Schweitzer said.

Deng Qinhua, chairman of Techcent, said the company has set up an innovation center and an engineering technology center in Chengdu Science City. He is considering moving the company's headquarters to the region.

During the event, an industrial fund with total investment of 5 billion yuan was established to provide German companies that invest in Sichuan with financial support.

The fund will focus on high-tech industries, such as high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy, and environmental protection.