Foshan boosts ties with Germany

Foshan is making progress in forging closer relations and cooperation with German cities in manufacturing and technological upgrades, according to local officials.

As a member of the Sino-German Industrial City Alliance, Foshan established the Foshan Sino-German Industrial Services Zone, for industrial cooperation with German companies in the city's Sanlongwan area, in 2012.

More than 100 projects have settled in the services zone, bolstering the city's ambition to become a globally leading manufacturing innovation center.

The management committee of the services zone is organizing with its German partners a joint pavilion with an area of 300 square meters for the China (Guangdong) International Internet Plus Exposition to be held from Oct 16 to 19 in Foshan.

The Sanlongwan Innovation Cluster, where the services zone is located, will release information about the planning, construction, international business environment and development of the services zone and the Sino-German Industrial City Alliance at the expo for the first time, said Li Jie, an official with the management committee, at a news conference on Wednesday.

A total of 32 European companies, more than half from Germany, will exhibit their products, services and solutions at the expo, he said.

The management committee of the services zone will also hold a seminar on cooperation in intelligent manufacturing between German and Chinese companies on Oct 15, with ZVEI, also known as the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association.

As one of the most important manufacturers' associations in Germany, ZVEI has arranged for more than 20 members to attend the seminar to take part in industrial exchanges and look for cooperation partners.

The city alliance will issue its first annual report on economic cooperation between China and Germany during the expo, focusing on the latest achievements in bilateral cooperation in Foshan's industrial parks and clusters. The report will also review all-around development and forecast trends from a professional perspective, Li said.

A total of 23 Chinese cities, including Foshan, and 20 German cities have joined the alliance, which was founded in 2016 to boost business exchanges, mergers and acquisitions and technological cooperation among its members.

The alliance, with its secretariat located in the Foshan Sino-German Industrial Services Zone, will hold its eighth general meeting during the expo on the afternoon of Oct 16.