The province of Anhui in China and the state of Lower Saxony in Germany have joined forces to strengthen their economic and trade cooperation, with a specific focus on the automotive sector. The 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Friendship between Anhui Province and Lower Saxony and the China-Germany (Anhui) Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Promotion Conference took place in Hefei on May 29, marking a significant milestone in their partnership.
In the realm of economic and trade, Germany holds a crucial position as Anhui’s leading partner in Europe. More than 110 German enterprises have invested and operated in Anhui, while 34 Anhui enterprises have made their mark in Germany. This robust exchange of investment and business activities has fostered a strong foundation for collaboration between the two regions.
Dating back to 1984, Anhui Province and Lower Saxony formally established a friendly provincial-state relationship, setting the stage for what would become the first alliance of its kind between China and Germany. Over the past four decades, their partnership has continually progressed, with Lower Saxony emerging as a vital source of German investment in Anhui and a concentrated territory for significant Anhui enterprise ventures in Germany.
Anhui takes pride in its status as one of China’s key innovation and manufacturing hubs, particularly in the realm of automobile and supply chain industries. A representative from Anhui Province underscored their hope for increased investment from automotive companies and related businesses such as Volkswagen Group and Continental. The aim is to further strengthen the region’s position in the automobile industry and to support Anhui’s accelerated investment layout in Lower Saxony.
The sentiment was echoed by an official from Volkswagen (Anhui) Co., Ltd., who highlighted the company’s 40-year presence in China and its deep integration with the country’s automobile industry. With a rapidly expanding footprint alongside China’s automotive sector, Volkswagen has garnered significant support and loyalty from over 50 million Chinese consumers. The company remains committed to contributing to the future development of China’s automobile industry.
Continental Group, founded in 1871 and based in Hanover, the capital of Lower Saxony, has nearly three decades of history in Anhui Province. Their establishment of an automotive electronics factory and an electronics R&D center in Wuhu speaks volumes about the conducive business environment in Anhui. A representative from Continental Group China expressed optimism for the company’s flourishing development in the province, thanks to the unwavering support from local governments.
The event also featured a collective signing ceremony for projects and enterprise matchmaking activities, providing a vital platform for meaningful exchanges between enterprises from both countries. This signifies a promising step towards further strengthening the economic and trade ties between Anhui and Lower Saxony.
The collaboration between Anhui Province and Lower Saxony in the automotive sector holds immense potential for mutual benefit and growth. As these two influential regions continue to deepen their ties, their partnership is poised to bring about lasting and impactful outcomes in the global automotive landscape.