Speech by Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle to the Asia Society in Hong Kong: “Europe at a Crossroads – The Sovereign Debt Crisis and its Impact on Asia”
Foreign Minister Westerwelle arrived in Hong Kong on 31 August 2012. During his visit he met with the Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region, Leung Chun-ying, and gave a speech at the Asia Society on the current situation in Europe, explaining German and European policies aimed at overcoming the debt crisis there.
To the speech
Strong German participation at HOFEX 2013 in Hong Kong - Asia-Pacific's leading food and hospitality tradeshow from 7 - 10 May 2013
The German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) – through its programme of international fairs and under the roof “made in Germany” – offers an opportunity for German SMEs to join an official trade fair participation at this year’s HOFEX in Hong Kong for the second time. This leading food and hospitality tradeshow in the Asia-Pacific region will take place from 7 to 10 May 2013 in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The German joint participation is situated in Hall 3D 300-330. For further questions please contact:
Dr. Jan de Graaf – German Food Asia Co., Limited –
at jan.degraaf@germanfoodasia.de.
To press release [pdf, 44.2k]
Riesling Weeks from 4 to 19 May 2013 in Hong Kong
The German Wine Institute ("Wines of Germany") will organise the global campaign "Riesling Weeks" from 4 to 19 May 2013 for the first time in Hong Kong. The internationally successful campaign began in 2006 in the USA. The objective of the campaign is to promote the awareness and knowledge of German Riesling as well as its unique taste worldwide, during which in Hong Kong the topic "pairing Riesling with Asian food" will play a particular role.
In addition, the German Wine Princess 2012-2013, Natalie Henninger, will be expected during the two-week campaign in Hong Kong and will visit the participating restaurants and caterers.
A list of all participating restaurants and caterers in the Riesling Weeks can be found under the link below or under: rieslingweeks.germanwines.de .
List of participating restaurants and caterers [pdf, 150.4k]
Germany's Pinot Noir prevailed in an international blind wine tasting in Hong Kong
The German Wine Institute organised in mid-January 2013 the "Pinot Noir Challenge" in Hong Kong - a blind wine tasting of 20 Pinot Noirs from Germany and 20 from other nations. The German wines enjoyed a huge success against a selection of international Pinot Noirs by the Hong Kong Wines Judges Association: eight of the top 10, including the top five, were German wines. The jury of the challenge included famous wine experts and critics from Asia, who were very much convinced by the high quality and stylistics of German Pinot Noirs. In the first "Pinot Noirs Challenge" in 2011 in London, German Pinot Noirs had already claimed seven places of the top 10.
The result of the "Pinot Noir Challenge" can be found under the following link.
© Deutsches Weininstitut GmbH
Top 10 of the "Pinot Noir Challenge" in Hongkong
New Kindergarten of the German Swiss International School in Sai Kung
The German Swiss International School is very happy to announce that from school year 2013-2014, German Kindergarten classes will be offered in Sai Kung Town. These new classes cater to the popular long-term demand of German-speaking parents living in the area.
For further information and admissions-related enquiries, please contact Ms Eva Ubowski on (852) 2961-4008.
German Swiss International School
The 9th Asia-Pacific Weeks Berlin, June 5 to 14, 2013
This year’s Asia-Pacific Weeks Berlin (APW) titled “Smart Cities” will focus on the urban challenges of the 21st century and how they affect the globalized world; a subject of particular relevance for Hong Kong. From June 5 to 14, 2013, the Asia-Pacific Weeks Berlin, under the patronage of German Federal President Joachim Gauck, invite you to join the dialogue with an economic region that is showing unsurpassed growth and shaping our global future in decisive ways. A central conference on “Smart Solutions for Urban Challenges” on June 5 and 6 will take place in the German Foreign Ministry. This event will include the Business Contact Forum, which proved to be of interest for participating companies during the most recent APW. Another highlight will be the Asia Business Day, which will be organized by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business on June 6. Details about the entire program and its many business- and research oriented events can be found at www.APWberlin.de. There you can register online; participation for all events will be free of charge.
APW-Flyer (English) [vnd.pdf, 465.02k]
LOGISTICS made in Germany - Your Gateway and Hub to Europe
Welcome to Germany - Europe's number one logistics location! There are more goods passing through Germany than through any other country in Europe. The "Logistics Alliance Germany" is an initiative by the Federal Government to strengthen Germany as Europe's gateway and logistics hub. Find out more about the alliance's activities, upcoming trade shows, publications, and its members on the following website: www.logistics-alliance-germany.de.
A flyer with comprehensive information and 10 good reasons for Germany – as Europe's number one logistics location number - can be downloaded from the link below.
Flyer - LOGISTICS made in Germany [pdf, 949.67k]
Congratulations from German Chancellor and Foreign Minister for Hong Kong's Chief-Executive-elect
Both the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Angela Merkel, and the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Guido Westerwelle, have sent their congratulations to the Chief-Executive-elect of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Leung Chun-ying, on the occasion of his election.
Germany plays a leading role in environmental protection
Germany is one of the few OECD countries that successfully decoupled economic growth from consumption of resources in past years. This is the positive result of the latest OECD's Environmental Performance Review of Germany. But the report suggests that challenges remain in areas like air and water quality, the protection of biodiversity, and de-carbonising energy production.
More on the topic can be found under:
www.oecd.org/env/countryreviews/germany
.
Jühnde is a place with a lot of energy: the village with 800 inhabitants in Lower Saxony became Germany’s first bioenergy village in 2005. It is completely self-sufficient with its own supply of power and heating from biomass. The pioneering project awakened a great deal of worldwide interest. Delegations travelled from the USA and Japan to learn how energy is produced from liquid manure, maize and grain in a biogas plant.
The energy turnaround challenge
Dr. Guido Westerwelle, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered a speech at the opening of the conference on “The Value of Europe” in the Federal Foreign Office Weltsaal Berlin on 18 September 2012.
“The Value of Europe”
"Nation Brands Index 2012" - Germany retains 2nd place in worldwide rating
According to the "Nation Brands Index 2012", published in October 2012 by Simon Anholt and GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, Germany performed, as in previous years, outstandingly well as one of the world's strongest and most well-rounded nations. Ranked among the TOP 10 in all 6 dimensions, Germany achieved a consistently positive rating, retaining its 2nd place (behind the USA) in the overall ranking. The report, which measures the strength and attractiveness of the image of 50 nations, is based on interviews of 1,000 adults in 20 countries.
It is one of the world’s most successful programmes for cultural exchange: in 2012 UNESCO is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. That’s why people around the globe will be focusing this year on the significance of the convention for cultural cooperation.
UNESCO World Heritage
Boom in Tourism from China
Germany is becoming increasingly popular with Chinese tourists as a travel destination. In 2011 The German National Tourist Board (DZT) recorded more than 1.3 million overnight stays from China. This topped the old 2010 record by 21%. "China is booming as a source of tourists in Germany. Chinese people visit Germany as part of a tour of Europe. On average they spend one to two nights here," says DZT CEO Petra Hedorfer. Alongside business trips, individual travel has increased strongly. Almost half the overnight stays by Chinese guests are spent in cities, with Frankfurt am Main, Munich and Berlin at the top of the list. These cities offer ideal conditions for the favourite pastime of the enthusiastic Chinese consumers - shopping.
© www.magazin-deutschland.de
Germany-The travel destination
German Consulate General
17 °C
