The government should increase more investments in education and scientific research.

    During May 30 to 31, President of DIHK Eric Schweitzer accompanied mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit to visit Guangzhou and Jieyangin China. In Guangzhou, member of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and secretary of Guangdong Provincial Committee of CPC Hu Chunhua met with the delegation, and both sides had a deep discussion about the cooperation between DIHK and Guangdong. Hu Chunhua expressed that now Guangdong is at a critical juncture of speeding up the transformation and upgrading of the industry, and in Berlin, as the capital of Germany, the innovative economy has develops rapidly, therefore, much experience and many concepts are worth learning to Guangdong. The cooperation between German enterprisesand Guangdong’s is expected to be deepened to achieve mutual benefits through Sino-German Metal EcoCity. Eric Schweitzer expresses that he will promote more German enterprises to settle in the park.

    As a German semi-officialenterprise association, DIHK has 3.6 million enterprise members, which include from Fortune 500 companies to small and medium-sized enterprises. These enterprise members reflect the current situation of German economic development.

    The real economy of Germany was increasingly strong and remained prosperous in the past several decades.What kind of role arethe government and the enterprises playing in this process? Can Guangdong learn from Germany? The reporter from the Southern Daily interviewed Eric Schweitzer on May 31.

Talking about the real economy:

To increase investment in infrastructure is an important measure to support the real economy.

Southern Daily: The real economy of Germany accounts for a relatively large proportionin the entire economic structure.Is this the intention of the government?

Eric Schweitzer: The real economy of Germany occupies an important placein the economic structure, but German federal government has not deliberately emphasized to support the real economy and not to support the fictitious economy. However, according to the results, and in the specific policies, it is more beneficial for the development of the real economy. For instance, the federal governmentattaches much importance to investments in education and scientific research, and works hard to cultivate more specialized talents in mechanical engineering. The well-educated and well-trained talents will naturally work on the real economy.

Southern Daily: Do the government have some systemic measures to support the real economy?

Eric Schweitzer: Yes. There are three. The first one is to establish frameworkconditions to support the real economy in laws and policies. The second one is to invest heavily in infrastructure, including roads, airports and railways that are closely related to the real economy. The third one is to stimulate and develop the real economy through reasonable tax adjustment. Here I want to stress that it is very important toincrease investment in education and scientific research. If a society wants to develop rapidly, the people should get good education. This is why German has advanced educational concepts such as Dual System.

Talking about project cooperation:

To construct the park led by an association makes it easier for Germany to get contact with China.

Southern Daily: What role, do you think, should the enterprises and the government play in the process of supporting the development of the real economy?

Eric Schweitzer: The development of the real economy requires continuous transformation and upgrading of the industries, and this took place in Germany and achieved good results. In this process the enterprise should rely on itself to meet the needs of the customersin the international market. The government provides frameworkconditions and supports in policies and politics.It is worth emphasizing that German government would not offer subsidies to the enterprises.

Southern Daily: What lesson do you think can Guangdong learn from that?

Eric Schweitzer: I think that Guangdong has already had good concept in this respect and carried out good practice. For example, the project of Sino-German Metal Eco City led by the Metal Enterprises Union of Jieyang is greatly supported by the government in frameworkand politics. It is like the relationship between the government and the market that we deal with in Germany. On one hand,DIHK is on behalf of the government, and on the other hand, DIHK represents the interests of the enterprises. The good relationship with the federal government makes our work go on more smoothly. And in my work, I will attach much importance to the interests of the whole society, the enterprises and the people instead of private interests.

Southern Daily: Why do you make such high evaluation on Sino-German Metal Eco City?

Eric Schweitzer: The traditional metal industry of Jieyang is strong but causes serious environmental pollution. The idea of promoting the ecological development of the metal industry through building the park is remarkable. In fact, this is not strange for German enterprises because they had the same experience. The ecological developmentis of benefits to the development of the society and the industry, and it is an inevitable choice for China or Germany. Therefore, we are willing to become a partner of Jieyang to devote to the project. What is more important is that the project is led by the association so it goeson more smoothly for DIHK to coordinate with Jieyang.

Talking about the future development prospect

To develop Guangdong as a base of DIHK in China

Southern Daily: What do you think is the characteristic of Guangdong’s enterprises?

Eric Schweitzer: German enterprises have strong innovation capacityand forward-looking optimism, and I also believe that Guangdong’s enterprises are strong and they want to be creative. Due to the same characteristic and the same aim, German enterprises and Guangdong’s will build up a good cooperation relationship.

Southern Daily: How will DIHK further promote the cooperation between German enterprises and Guangdong’s?

Eric Schweitzer: Now we have an office in Guangzhou, and in the following we will rely on Sino-German Metal Eco City to strengthen the cooperation with Guangdong and to support Guangdong as the base of DIHK in China. In addition, we will focus on promoting the construction of Sino-German Dual University of Applied Sciences. Germany puts emphasis on vocational education, and Adlershof industrial park has 15 thousand vocational talents. We hope that more vocational talentscould be cultivated in Sino-German Dual Universityfor Sino-German Metal Eco City and even Guangdong.