News and Politics
Germany's Political System
Germany is a democratic, federal and social constitutional state, peacefully reunited in 1990. The primacy of the basic rights, the definition of the principles of a democratic and social federal state, and the foundation of a supreme court that watches over adherence to the constituion - these are the basic cornerstones of German democracy.
Read more about Germany's political system
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
The newly inaugurated German Development Media Awards honor journalists worldwide for their outstanding reporting on human rights and put the spotlight on journalists telling important stories affecting their communities, countries and regions.
GERMAN DEVELOPMENT MEDIA AWARDS 2013
Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum 2013 from 17 to 19 June 2013 in Bonn, Germany
The Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum is a congress with international reach. It draws media representatives from around the world – including the fields of politics, culture, business, development cooperation and science. The 2013 conference, the sixth Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum on the theme “The Future of Growth – Economic Values and the Media”, will take place from 17 to 19 June 2013 at the World Conference Centre in Bonn, Germany. It is supported by the German Federal Government.
For more information please consult the webpage: www.dw-gmf.de.
Press release [pdf, 35.24k]
Germany's Foreign Policy
Peace and freedom are the focal points of German foreign policy. They can only be guaranteed through cooperation in a spirit of trust and a fair balancing of interests with our partners in the United Nations, NATO, G8, OSCE and EU. To understand more about Germany's foreign policy, please visit the following website.
Turning enemies to friends - that was the purpose of the 1963 Elysée Treaty between Germany and France. The agreement is approaching its 50th anniversary, and some say it's a useful model for other historic enemies.
To full article
For a better Europe
Chancellor Angela Merkel expects that the European Council summit meeting will agree on a road map for the next steps to be taken on the economic and currency union. In a government statement in the German Bundestag she called for greater economic-policy coordination within the European Union to boost competitiveness.
To article (13 December 2012)
Germany's European Policy
After centuries of bloody conflict, the integration of states and their interests has defeated nationalism and brought Europe an unparalleled period of peace, prosperity and stability. That is why the completion of European integration is our top political objective.
European Policy
Human rights policy is the responsibility of all policymakers in Germany: there can be no “human rights-free zones” either in foreign policy, security policy or in any other policy field.
Human Rights Policy
Germany and Hong Kong
As an important gateway to China, Hong Kong has long established bilateral relations with Germany. Germans have been a constant presence in this vibrant city and are engaged in all sorts of activities - be it cultural, commercial or professional. To understand more about the relations between the two places, take a look at the following report written by the German Federal Foreign Office, in the German language:
Relations between Germany and Hong Kong
On 3rd October 2012, the annual reception of the Consulate General on the occasion of the Day of German Unity took place in the "Grand Hyatt Hong Kong" hotel, which again numerous representatives from the political, business, cultural and science sectors, the media as well as members of the German community in Hong Kong attended this year.
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
