Fourth Hamburg Summit: Europa has to Find a Coherent Voice

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Minister of Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle, Vice-President of the EU-Commission Almunia and Secretary General of the State Council of China Ma Kai all Spoke at Europe's Biggest China Business Conference.

HAMBURG, Germany, November 26, 2010 - Europe's biggest Sino-European business conference "Hamburg
Summit: China meets Europe", which takes place biennial since 2004 at the
Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, has become a landmark event for Sino-European
economic relations. More than 400 participants from 15 countries gathered to
hear speeches and discussions by the very elite of Sino-European business,
politics and academia. Among them: Ma Kai, Secretary General of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, Deputy Chancellor and Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Germany Dr. Guido Westerwelle, Former Chancellor of
Germany Gerhard Schröder, Vice-President of the EU-Commission Joaquín
Almunia, the Vice-President of the European Central Bank Dr. Vitor Constancio
as well as the Assistant Governor of the People's Bank of China Li Dongrong.

Ma Kai, Secretary General of the State Council of the People's
Republic of China, said: "Over the past 35 years of China-EU diplomatic
relations, China-EU business ties have come a long way to become the
important engine and a solid foundation for China-EU comprehensive strategic
partnership. A more stable, developed, dynamic and open China will open up
even broader prospects for China-EU business cooperation. The two sides
should work together to continue to promote bilateral trade and investment
and enhance practical cooperation in new and high technology. The cooperation
between small and medium-sized enterprises must be intensified and
communication and coordination in international economic and financial
affairs strengthened."

Deputy Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany
Dr. Guido Westerwelle said: "The Hamburg Summit has become an important
platform for high-level economic dialogue between Europe and China. One can
conclude: China and Europe need each other more than ever. Cooperating
intensively benefits both partners. Because of its dimension, its economic
strength and its political impact China is a key-partner for Europe in the
21st century. This will also be the basis of a new EU-strategy towards China.
We appreciate that China today takes more and more responsibilty in politics
and economy, and we wish to intensify and strengthen our cooperation with
China."

Regarding Sino-European relations Gerhard Schröder said: "In
an increasingly multilateral world, we need China in order to cope with major
international challenges. Such challenges include for example the climate
change and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Therefore
the existence of a stable and successful China is in our global interest.
This is why we Europeans must intensify the strategic partnership with China
in all areas - in politics and culture, as well as in the economy and civil
society. This can only happen, however, if both partners meet each other with
mutual respect for their different cultures and if they establish a bond of
trust."

Nikolaus W. Schües, former President of the Hamburg Chamber of
Commerce and Conference Chairman of the "Hamburg Summit" concluded: "The
global economic crisis has changed the perception of China's role in the
world. The People's Republic is on its way to take over global
responsibility, and the European Union should welcome and support this
development". While China's influence would be growing, Europe had not found
a coherent way to voice it's interests vis-a-vis Beijing. "This has to
change! How can we be seen and treated as a Union if we do not behave as
one?" Schües asked.

Topics that would need better coordination among European
countries when dealing with China would include discriminating policies
against foreign enterprises in Chinese public procurements as well as the
problem of forced knowledge transfer in joint-ventures. Schües emphasized
"This will not hurt China's economy, in fact it will benefit from the
increased trust and confidence that foreign investors will have, which in
turn will lead to increased investments and growth in China." The European
Union should thus further support China in pushing through reforms.

Further information at www.hamburg-summit.com, Co-Host: China
Federation of Industrial Economics CFIE; Summit Partner: AHK Greater China,
China Association of Trade in Services, European Union Chamber of Commerce in
China, Eurochambres, OAV - German Asia-Pacific Business Association; Sponsors
(Selection): Montblanc, Audi AG, Commerzbank AG, COSCO Europe GmbH, Deutsche
Bank AG, Huawei, LANXESS AG, Rickmers Group, Siemens AG.

    Press Contact:

    Hamburg Chamber of Commerce
    Dr. Jörn Arfs
    Director Public Relations
    Phone: +49-(0)40-36138-301
    E-Mail: joern.arfs@hk24.de

Internet: www.hk24.de

Press Contact: Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Jörn Arfs, Director Public Relations, Phone: +49-(0)40-36138-301, E-Mail: joern.arfs at hk24.de