German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ongoing visit to China has highlighted the importance of ties between the two countries and is expected to help further expand business opportunities for German companies in China, said an executive at German multinational software company SAP.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Huang Chenhong, global executive vice president of SAP and president of SAP Greater China, shared his thoughts on the significance of Scholz's three-day official visit to China, which began on Sunday.
"The governmental relationship is always important for multinational companies' business in China. So this visit from Chancellor Scholz to China really, one, underscores the importance of the Sino-German relationship. Second, I think it's going be a very helpful to German companies, businesses and the cooperation on the China market," he said.
According to Huang, the number of SAP customers in China has surpassed 16,000 since the company, one of the leading software firms in Europe and a Fortune Global 500 corporation, first set foot on the Chinese market 30 years ago.
"I think China has always been a strategic market to a company like SAP and we are very committed to this market. We have been here for over three decades. We're serving more than 16,000 customers, I think the collaboration between global economies is getting more and more important, and also the new technology like business AI and cloud [computing] is really driving customers and enterprises' digital transformation journey. The digital economy is becoming more and more significant, the weight is higher," he said.
Underscoring the role of technological innovation, Huang said SAP has hired thousands of local engineers engaged in research and development in its Shanghai labs as they firm looks to achieve further growth going forward.
"In SAP, we are providing cutting-edge business AI technology, cutting-edge digital transformation technology to enhance enterprises competitiveness, efficiency and also the drive for innovation and productivity. We are localized and we are collaborating with partners in the ecosystem and we are doing the innovation. [At] SAP's labs in Shanghai, we have 4,300 local R and D (research and development) engineers and really Shanghai serves as a hub for co-innovation between SAP and our customers, really to together address the evolving challenges and opportunities of business growth," he said.
Scholz visit can bring growth opportunities to German companies in China: SAP Global VP
The year 2024 celebrates the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, and it also heralds the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism, a celebration aimed at bolstering cultural and people-to-people exchanges through a series of enriching events.
During a special episode focused on this milestone, cultural experts and influencers from both nations shared insights into the depth of Sino-French cultural interactions.
The discussion, livestreamed from Shanghai on April 22, began with a historical overview, notably when then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai introduced President Georges Pompidou to the Yungang Grottoes, a renowned Buddhist cave site in north China's Shanxi. These caves feature intricate carvings that reflect religious and cultural syntheses from the 5th and 6th centuries.
David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, commented on the geopolitical context of the initial outreach.
"People have to remember that we were in the middle of the Cold War, therefore, the world was divided. For a Western country like France to reach out to China, and of course vice versa, it's a beautiful moment, historical diplomatic breakthroughs, means that despite all the geopolitical difficulties, a spirit of cooperation and friendship can prevail," said Gosset.
Xie Dingwei, executive director of the Bund One Art Museum, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
"We need to preserve these cultural heritages. We not [just] preserve the sculptures or the buildings itself, but also, it gives us a chance to see hundreds of years ago, how our craftsmanship, our architecture, our human beings, we have reached [such] high levels, which brings us to the present time these treasures, these values. This is something we really cannot afford to lose. Culture is a common language; it doesn't matter you're Eastern art or Western art, somehow they can be connected. So this is something I think it creates a communication channel between the nations," said Xie.
The cultural connection was recently demonstrated during a meeting last April between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they enjoyed the performance of "Flowing Water" played on the Guqin by a Chinese artist, symbolizing the flowing friendship between the two nations.
"This communication on art subjects between the nations and different peoples are really, really important. It goes beyond politics, beyond the differences between the nations. But you all go to getting closer to understanding each other," said Xie.
Gosset also supported the notion of fostering unity through cultural platforms, aligning with President Xi Jinping's idea of building a community with a shared future.
"I am completely aligned with this idea. We are on the same boat. Our world is frightened by too many divisions. And I think, what is important is to support the forces that can unite us, so it can be music, and certainly museums, and you need leaders with a vision that does not separate us," said Gosset.
Six decades of China-France diplomatic relations highlighted by cultural exchange
