On the afternoon of January 14, a delegation of the Governmental Affairs Department at BMW Group from its headquarters in Munich, Germany, visited the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), Tsinghua University. They held in-depth discussions with CISS experts and distinguished scholars on China-Germany cooperation, China-EU relations, and Trump’s return to power and put forward constructive opinions.

Starting from Trump’s China policy in his second term, the two sides discussed the impact of the US factors, and the political and economic trends and uncertainties within the EU on China-EU relations. They also furthered their exploration on how EU should coordinate its economic growth and security concerns, how China handle its relationship with the EU and its member states respectively, how large multinational companies such as the BMW Group sustain their progress amid geopolitical changes, and how they boost international relations as non-state actors.

Chinese scholars participating in the seminar included Cui Hongjian, Professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance, Beijing Foreign Studies University; Liu Deshou, Senior Researcher at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Jie Dalei, Associate Professor at the School of International Studies, Peking University; and Shi Yan, Fellow of CISS. Representatives from BMW Group included Wu Yanyan, Vice President of BMW Group Region China; Maik Böres, Director of Policy Government Affairs and Corporate Protocol; and Johannes Demuth, Lead Sustainable Policy, Government & External Affairs, BMW Group.