German firms keen to reinforce China presence

Eyeing an increased level of innovative capacity and openness, German enterprises are beefing up investment in the Chinese market and injecting new momentum into Sino-German cooperation, said company executives during the recently concluded seventh China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

In the newly established new materials zone at this year's CIIE, German technology group Heraeus, a seven-time CIIE participant, showcased an array of high-quality materials and advanced technologies in areas such as precious metals, recycling, semiconductors, electronics, healthcare and industrial applications.

"We are thrilled to be featured in the newly established new materials zone, which aligns perfectly with our expertise," said Jan Rinnert, CEO and chairman of the board of managing directors of Heraeus Group. "We are delighted to see such materials being recognized as having strategic importance in China, where we can further contribute."

Celebrating its 50th year of development in China, Rinnert said the company sees this milestone as a successful result of China's innovation-driven strategy and its emphasis on nurturing new quality productive forces.

"We operate with a philosophy of'In China, for China' to stay close to our customers and provide timely service. In recent decades, China has been shifting toward an innovation-driven economy. We have also invested heavily in our local innovation capabilities to support this," he said.

Looking to the next 50 years, Rinnert said Heraeus will continue to enhance its local innovation capabilities and deepen cooperation to achieve sustainable growth in China.

"China will remain one of the most important markets for us. We will continue to expand our capacity and innovation capabilities, invest in and nurture our talents," he said.

The German tech player hopes to further cultivate the Chinese market by introducing more advanced products and technologies, advancing investment projects and strengthening local innovation efforts, said Kevin Chen, a senior executive at Heraeus, adding that it aims to contribute to China's economic growth by supporting high-quality development in related sectors.

Another long-standing CIIE exhibitor, German cleaning equipment manufacturer Karcher, also participated for the seventh time and debuted its sub-brand Hawk at the technology and equipment zone of the expo.

"As a long-term supporter of CIIE, we are honored to witness the show's success," said Marco Cardinale, Karcher's chief technology officer. "The spillover effects of this exhibition have been instrumental in expanding our sales, production, and brand presence in China over the past seven years."