Berlin mayor welcomes Chinese investors

Visiting Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit said that he welcomes Chinese firms to invest in the capital city of Germany.

Wowereit, who is leading a delegation of executives from 17 Berlin-based enterprises, made the comments in Beijing on Thursday, saying he hopes his five-day trip to the Chinese capital and Guangzhou would intensify existing cooperation and create impetus for new joint projects.

Eric Schweitzer, president of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the Chinese business community is increasingly discovering Berlin as a strategic location to do business.

Schweitzer also said Chinese companies that have expertise in energy efficiency or renewable energy technologies would have great potential in investing in Berlin, as they would be able to take advantage of the local talent pool and innovative business environment.

He added that German companies are also keen on opportunities created by China's urbanization, which drives the demand for greater infrastructure.

Michael Clausecker, Bombardier Transportation Germany's chairman of the board, who is a member of the delegation, said that China is very interested in investing in infrastructure and rail transportation, and Germany has the latest products and technologies, which means that "there are great opportunities for cooperation."

Trade between the two countries exceeded 1.2 billion euro in 2013. Germany's main imports from China were metal products, rubber and plastic products and motor vehicles, and its main exports to China included machinery products, electrical equipment and electronic products.