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.
Joachim Gauck was elected as the new head of state of the Federal Republic of Germany on March 18, 2012 in Berlin with one of the best results in the history of the country’s federal presidential elections. Gauck received 991 of the 1,228 valid votes. An overwhelming majority of the electors in the 15th Federal Assembly chose Joachim Gauck for the highest office in the land during the first round of voting.
Germany’s new President Joachim Gauck
Blogs, social media and digital society: thousands of bloggers and Internet users are gathering at the “re:publica” conference in Berlin from May 2 to 4, 2012. The event, which is seen by Web 2.0 fans and experts in Germany as the most important forum, is offering a programme of around 200 hours with talks, workshops and panel discussions.
Berlin 2.0
At 450 million tons of CO2 emissions, 1,640 power generation and industrial facilities required to participate in emissions trading in Germany emitted approximately one percent less in 2011 than in 2010. Despite a very strong economy and nuclear phase-out, the reduction of CO2 emissions has continued since 2008. According to preliminary calculations, emissions were especially reduced in the energy sector.
Press release
Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on the EU’s new financial policy stability and the goal of a political union in Europe.
Minister, for many months now Europe has been engaged in financial policy crisis management – what will a sustainable solution look like?
We are now developing the European Union into a stability union. That is what we agreed at the European Council on 9 December 2011. Almost all member states of the European Union committed themselves to observing the stability criteria by showing, for example, increased thrift and greater budgetary discipline.
“Europe will grow closer together”
German Federal Foreign Minister met Chief Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR
On Monday 24th October 2011, Federal Foreign Minister, Dr. Guido Westerwelle met Hon. Stephen Lam GBS, JP, Chief Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin.
The talks focused on the current situation in Hong Kong in the wake of the electoral reform and on the election of the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council coming up next year, as well as on Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre.
Germany presented itself successfully as a country of modern and innovative designs at the Business of Design Week (BoDW), which closed on 3rd December, 2011. Renowned German design experts informed about the latest design developments at the BoDW Forum and German companies presented design solutions at the concurrent Inno Design Tech Expo. Stefan Kapferer, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, visited BoDW as the German guest of honour. Young designers from Germany also took part at the "Detour" side programme of BoDW.
"Nation Brands 2011" - Germany continues to be 2nd place in worldwide rating
According to the "Nation Brands Index 2011", published in October 2011 by Simon Anholt & / GfK Custom Research North America, Germany remains one of the word's strongest and most well-known national brands, retaining its 2nd place overall ranking from 2010. The report is based on interviews of adults in 20 countries (1000 persons in each country). The image of 50 nations were measured.
Further information
GNTB theme for 2012 - Wine heritage and nature in Germany
Wine will be a key focus for the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) in 2012. In collaboration with the German Wine Institute (DWI), the theme ‘Wine heritage and nature – fine wine and good times’ will be promoted internationally to inspire wine lovers who appreciate culture and natural scenery to take a holiday in Germany’s wine regions.
German Consulate General
12 °C
