On October 17th, during an interview, Christian Scharpf, the Mayor of Ingolstadt in Bavaria, addressed the mounting geopolitical tensions, stating, “Neither trade wars nor actual wars provide good solutions for people around the globe; cooperation is the preferable choice.” He emphasized the importance of strong collaboration between Germany and China for global economic stability and urged both countries to continue down that cooperative path.
This interview took place during the 10th Bavarian China Day held in Munich, where Scharpf, alongside Georg Rosenfeld, the head of the Ingolstadt Economic Development Office, expressed optimism about the prospects for German-Chinese cooperation.
Scharpf highlighted Ingolstadt’s robust foundation in the automotive, mechanical manufacturing, and information and communication sectors. He noted that Germany and China have engaged in significant collaboration in these areas. For instance, Volkswagen Group established a joint venture in China back in the 1980s, and today, the two entities enjoy extensive cooperation in new technology development, which is proving mutually beneficial.
He believes that Germany and China could further deepen cooperation on global issues such as climate protection, sustainable development, and education. Strengthening student exchanges would enhance cultural understanding between the two countries.
Georg Rosenfeld shared insights during the interview about a family-owned machinery and equipment manufacturing company from Changchun, China, that has recently set up operations in Ingolstadt. He pointed out that collaboration between innovative family businesses in Germany and China is thriving. “We are in a globalized economic landscape and must work together to ensure this partnership continues to flourish,” he remarked.
Lin Kai, the Deputy Consul General of the Chinese Consulate in Munich, added, “The friendship between China and Bavaria runs deep and has a long history. Bavaria is a pioneer in promoting friendly cooperation between our regions.” Under the political leadership of both nations, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Bavaria has yielded significant results. China has remained Bavaria’s most important trading partner for several consecutive years, accounting for over 10% of the state’s total foreign trade volume.
He further explained that there are more than 2,000 companies in Bavaria maintaining economic ties with China, with over 100 Bavarian firms establishing production lines in China and more than 600 having set up branches or trade representative offices there. According to the Bavarian Investment Promotion Agency, Chinese investments in Bavaria rank among the top three for foreign enterprises, with approximately 500 Chinese companies having established operations in the region.
