On January 10th the KAS | Shanghai first organised a discussion with Chinese and German journalists. During the debate the possibilities and limits of reporting in China, the picture of China in the German media, China`s view on the current debt crisis in Europe, as well as perspectives for China`s development after the forthcoming leadership transition were analysed. The transition of responsibility to the 5th leadership generation will be initiated with the replacement most members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo during the 18th congress of the Communist Party. Even Chinese journalists can not predict,which impact this change of the heads of party and state will have on the future development of the country. Regarding the Euro crisis it became evident that an intensive participation in the acquisition of government bonds of highly indebted countries by China would be seen critically in the Chinese public. The People`s Republic is willing to strengthen the European economy by direct investments, but a massive acquisition of European debt is considered to be to risky.

The main focus of the discussion programme was on China’s foreign policy within the region and worldwide. A discussion with Chinese Central Asia experts outlined perspectives for the development of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO troops in 2014 and China’s interests in the region of Central Asia. Prof. Pan Guang, director of the Centre of International Studies of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, and Prof. Zhao Huasheng, director of the Centre for Russia and Central Asia Studies at the Fudan University, outlined that China is strongly interested in the stability of this neighbouring country due to its substantial, long term investments in Afghanistan. China massively invested in the exploitation of resources and in December 2011 became the first country to sign a contract on the exploitation of Afghan oil reserves. Therewith China contributes to the economic development of a country which so far is depending on development assistance for 97% of its GDP. According to the statements of the experts Beijing increasingly utilizes the good relations to the government of Hamid Karzai and to Pakistan to contribute to the stabilisation of Afghanistan.

In the morning of January 12th, the KAS | Shanghai enabled an exchange with the Europe and USA experts Prof. Zhang Jiadong from the Fudan University and Prof. Wang Yiwei from the Tongji University on the development of the relations between China and the USA and countries of the European Union. Furthermore the Chinese experts explained China’s stance towards the new leadership of North Korea to Manfred Grund. In order not to loose the influence on the country, Beijing will continue support Pyongyang, but also hopes that Kim Yong-un will step on the path of economic development according to the example of China.

In addition, the exchange on developments of domestic politics and the civil society in China was part of the programme. On January 11th, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung | Shanghai accompanied Manfred Grund to the city of Wuxi, one of the most important economic centres of Jiangsu province. There the KAS organized a round table discussion with representatives of the municipal government, the municipal party committee and the local chamber of commerce. The challenges of the city are – similar to those in other costal provinces – the integration of migrant workers into the urban society as well as environmental protection and resource saving in order to secure a long term, sustainable development. Shan Kangqi, party secretary of the Wuxi Chamber of Commerce, and Pu Wenchang, president of the Wuxi Market Association pointed out the increasing influence of economic representative organisations and NGOs in the political process using the example of the city of Wuxi. Their opinion is heard on a multitude of hearings and periodical meetings take place with the municipal government, during which proposals can be made and criticism can be uttered. The cooperation in this field with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung will be intensified in the upcoming years.