"France, Germany and Europe’s future"
Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle delivered an address at the 'Le Monde' discussion panel in Paris on 24 May 2013.
To speech
“I am very concerned by the recent opinion polls on Europeans’ views about their future and the role played by the process of European integration. Many people in Europe are losing faith in the joint European project. Especially in countries where people have been hit hard by the effects of the crisis, people are losing confidence in a better future for themselves and their children.
Foreign Minister Westerwelle calls for confidence in Europe
dena Energy Efficiency Award 2013
The German Energy Agency (dena) is advertising this year again the international „Energy Efficiency Award 2013“. The award with total prize money of EUR 30,000 is part of the “Initiative EnergieEffizienz” campaign funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. Prizes will be awarded to businesses which have put innovative and exemplary measures for increasing energy efficiency into practice. It is now open for entries.
Further details
Hong Kong's design and arts scene showcased in Berlin
On the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Weeks (APW) 2013 in Berlin, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin organised two events to showcase Hong Kong's creative industry on June 7 2013 in Berlin, including a seminar "Creative City: Design and Arts Scene in Hong Kong" at the German Federal Foreign Office, as part of the programme of the APW 2013. Moderated by the Director of the International Design Centre Berlin, Ms. Cornelia Horsch, the seminar featured leading professionals from Hong Kong's and Berlin's creative industries such as the former curator at Museum Fridericianum in Kassel and the curator of the new museum for visual culture in Hong Kong M+, Mr. Tobias Berger.
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Perfect Pairings: Hong Kong's culinary delights and German wines in Mainz
To showcase the perfect match of Chinese food and German wines, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin together with the German Wine Institute organised an extraordinary lunch event "Perfect Pairings" in Restaurant Bootshaus on April 27 (Berlin time) in Mainz, Germany.
A team from the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute (CCTI) of the Vocational Training Council in Hong Kong tantalised the taste buds of about 70 guests from the wine industry, the hotel and hospitality industry and the media with Chinese cuisine. Their sophisticated creations were paired up with the finest German wines, selected by Hong Kong-based master of wine Ms Jeannie Cho Lee.
© Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
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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
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
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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
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