On October 10 and 11, 2014 over 600 experts from the business, political and academic world came together at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce to discuss the state of the Sino-European economic relations.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spoke at the “Hamburg Summit” as a guest of honour of the Chinese government. This demonstrates the relevance that the Chinese government attaches to Hamburg and this conference as a driving force for relations with China.

Among respected speakers was Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg. Bettel said China-Lux relations is of a mutual respected and of mutual benefit. Luxembourg is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as finance, willing to be the gateway for the Chinese enterprises and financial institutions to enter the Europe and euro area.

Cooperation between the European Union and China is particularly essential in this respect as we represent two major players in the global system. Despite the dynamic and thriving economic relations between China and Europe, the knowledge gaps about the society, culture and last but not least the political system of the respective counterpart remain large. To move our relationship forward, Europe needs to know more about China, and China needs to know more about Europe. We need to further improve our understanding of each other´s history and culture.

To be prepared to face the imminent arrival of Chinese people and to help (to some extent) the Chinese population to settle down in Luxembourg, CLCCL is offering a lot of possibilities from learning (adults/children courses) up to providing a better understanding of both cultures and expectations to assure a better integration.

(sources : Hamburg-summit.com, Hamburg Business Journal, Bettel speech, CLCCL)