On May 26, the Beijing China-Germany Industrial Cooperation Development Forum—2025 China-Germany (Europe) Hidden Champions Forum opened at the Beijing Shunyi China-Germany International Conference and Exhibition Center. The forum was hosted by the People's Government of Shunyi District, Beijing, in collaboration with the European Economic Senate, and co-initiated by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) International Cooperation Center, the ADWM German Hidden Champions Institute, and the DEZ German-European SME China Cooperation Center. Under the theme "Joint Innovation·Integrated Development," the forum attracted over 600 participants, including government representatives, experts, professors, industry leaders, and media representatives from China and abroad. Among them, nearly 200 political dignitaries, Hidden Champions, and industry organization representatives traveled to Beijing from overseas, doubling the number of international guests compared to the first forum. Over 400 domestic participants, including specialized and innovative SMEs, research institutions, and industrial investment funds, actively engaged, with more than 50 key Chinese and German (European) enterprises showcasing new products, technologies, and scenarios on-site. The forum built an open cooperation platform for diverse stakeholders from China, Germany, and Europe, facilitating in-depth dialogues on technological innovation, industrial development, talent mobility, and information exchange, collectively writing a new chapter of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
2025 China-Germany (Europe) Hidden Champions Forum Opens
Gathering Wisdom from Europe to Explore New Paths of Cooperation
At the opening ceremony, speeches were delivered by Mu Peng, Vice Mayor of the People's Government of Beijing; Walter Döring, Executive Chairman of the European Economic Senate and Chairman of the German Global Market Leaders (Hidden Champions) Summit Committee; Wan Qian, Deputy Director-General of the International Cooperation Department of the NDRC; Hans-Peter Friedrich, former Vice President of the German Bundestag and Chairman of the Germany-China Parliamentary Group; and Gong Zongyuan, Secretary of the Shunyi District Committee of Beijing, among other Chinese and international leaders. Distinguished attendees included Jiang Xiaojuan, Professor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and former Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council; Yang Ming, Vice Chairman of the European Economic Senate and Executive Chairman of the DEZ German-European SME China Cooperation Center; Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhorzhito Stankov; Michael Müller, former Mayor of Berlin; Benita Ferrero-Waldner, former EU Commissioner for External Relations and Trade; Johannes Hahn, former EU Commissioner for Budget and Administration; Andrian Digolean, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Moldova; Shi Mingde, President of the China-Germany Friendship Association and former Chinese Ambassador to Germany; Wu Hongliang, Director of the NDRC International Cooperation Center; Liu Minqiang, Director-General of the Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce; Pan Feng, Vice Chairman of the China-Europe Association for Economic and Technical Cooperation; Tang Heng, Ambassador of the European Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Liu Biwei, Vice President of the China Public Diplomacy Association; Zhan Yong, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Investment Administration of the Ministry of Commerce; Fu Baozong, Deputy Director of the NDRC International Cooperation Center; Jia Wenqin, Director of the Beijing Bureau of the China Securities Regulatory Commission; Zhou Jingxiao, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Beijing Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese; Li Xiangying, Director of the Beijing Sub-Council of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade; Huo Xuewen, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Bank of Beijing; Lin Jianhua, Deputy Secretary of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission; Tang Jianguo, Member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology; Yao Ke, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau; and Cui Xiaohao, Deputy Secretary of the Shunyi District Committee and District Mayor.
The event also gathered leaders from national ministries, Beijing municipal departments, and the Shunyi District government; representatives from embassies and consulates of Moldova, Romania, Cyprus, and other countries; German (European) government departments, Hidden Champions, and innovative SMEs; heads of German enterprises' China offices; domestic specialized and innovative SMEs, research institutions, and industrial investment funds; as well as domestic and international media.
Vice Mayor of Beijing Mu Peng Delivers Speech
In the keynote speech session, Michael Müller, former Mayor of Berlin and former President of the German Bundesrat; Jiang Xiaojuan, Professor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and former Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council; Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhorzhito Stankov; Benita Ferrero-Waldner, former EU Commissioner for External Relations and Trade; Nico Graf, President of the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (Heilbronn); and Wu Hongliang, Director of the NDRC International Cooperation Center, delivered speeches on topics such as China-Germany (Europe) economic and technological cooperation, high-level opening-up, cross-border cooperation among SMEs, friendly city collaborations, low-carbon economy ecosystems, and Germany's dual vocational education system.
Keynote Speech Session
Participants emphasized that China, Germany, and Europe have vast opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in areas like industrial chain synergy and technological innovation. The Beijing China-Germany Industrial Cooperation Development Forum—2025 China-Germany (Europe) Hidden Champions Forum serves as a communication channel for enhancing mutual trust and promoting economic and technological cooperation, building on the success of the inaugural forum in 2024 to share development opportunities and explore new growth spaces.
Industrial-Financial Cooperation to Create Win-Win Opportunities
The NDRC International Cooperation Center and the DEZ German-European SME China Cooperation Center jointly released the latest research成果 (achievements), unveiling the "2025 Report on Open Cooperation between Chinese and German Hidden Champions." The report, using the Beijing China-Germany Economic and Technical Cooperation Pilot Zone as a reference model, explores ways to better facilitate the development of German (European) Hidden Champions in China and provides insights for local governments in China and Germany (Europe) to establish dialogue mechanisms, cultivate industrial chains, and achieve mutual empowerment.
Release of the "2025 Report on Open Cooperation between Chinese and German Hidden Champions"
To build a cross-border financial and capital cooperation ecosystem and improve the "offshore R&D + local transformation" synergy, Huo Xuewen, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Bank of Beijing; Cui Xiaohao, Deputy Secretary of the Shunyi District Committee and District Mayor; Fu Baozong, Deputy Director of the NDRC International Cooperation Center; Gao Su, Chief Representative of the Beijing Representative Office of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg; Wu Yue, Vice President of Deteng Capital; Yue Peng, Chairman of Beijing Industrial Development Investment Management Co., Ltd.; Liu Peilong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager of BAIC Capital Co., Ltd.; and Jin Xi, Investment Director of Beijing Jingguorui Equity Investment Fund Management Co., Ltd., jointly launched the "Golden Link for China-Germany (Europe) Economic and Technical Cooperation," announcing six initiatives including "building an industrial-financial information database" and "enhancing convenience for foreign personnel." The "Golden Link Initiative" aims to create a platform connecting financial capital with industrial needs, promoting deep integration of industrial and financial resources, and facilitating high-quality development in China-Germany (Europe) economic and technical cooperation. At the launch ceremony, three synergistic cases were highlighted: the China-Germany Intelligent Manufacturing Base, the China-Germany (Europe) Industrial Acceleration Base, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Intelligent Connected New Energy Automotive Technology Eco-Hub in Shunyi.
Launch of the "Golden Link for China-Germany (Europe) Economic and Technical Cooperation"
Yang Ming, Vice Chairman of the European Economic Senate and Executive Chairman of the DEZ German-European SME China Cooperation Center; Lin Jianhua, Deputy Secretary of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission; Tang Jianguo, Member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology; Zhu Sheng, Member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Beijing Investment Promotion Service Center; and Hou Ying, Deputy District Mayor of Shunyi, jointly unveiled the "Beijing Shunyi China-Germany (Europe) Hidden Champions Reception Hub." The hub aims to serve as the first stop for German (European) Hidden Champions entering China, leveraging resources from the German Global Market Leaders (Hidden Champions) Summit to build a platform for showcasing, matching, and transforming innovative achievements. Through regular international activities, it will efficiently connect with international resources, including local German (European) enterprises, and continuously promote mutual visits and cooperation.
Launch Ceremony of the Beijing Shunyi China-Germany (Europe) Hidden Champions Reception Hub
Linking Innovation to Promote Open Development
The forum enhanced its format with a "1+5+N" multi-level agenda, featuring one opening ceremony and main forum, five thematic events, and N supporting activities, including closed-door meetings for foreign-funded enterprises, talent-focused sessions, open days for key scenarios in Shunyi, and one-on-one business talks. These activities created multiple dialogue scenarios, showcased Beijing's open and inclusive image and Shunyi's international environment, and provided ample face-to-face exchange opportunities for governments, parks, institutions, and enterprises from China, Germany, and Europe.
The "China-Germany SME Cooperation Dialogue—Roundtable on Industrial Chain Innovation and Integration," as a key event for government-enterprise dialogue under the China-Germany SME open cooperation mechanism, explored new paths for SMEs to integrate into industrial chain collaboration and practical cooperation. Deputy Director-General Jing Qin of the NDRC's Foreign Capital Department introduced policies to promote foreign investment, boosting confidence in China-Germany (Europe) cooperation. The "Hidden Forces, Refined Innovation—Dialogue between Chinese Specialized and Innovative SMEs and Global Hidden Champions" provided a platform for mutual learning. The "Riding the Tide, Gathering Wisdom in Shunyi—Interpretation of Open Policies and Market Access Measures" event introduced open policies to German (European) enterprises, addressing their concerns about落地 (implementation). The forum also held thematic events on smart connected new energy vehicles and医药健康 (pharmaceutical health), facilitating in-depth dialogues in these key industries.
Forum Exchange and Exhibition Area
Beijing, steadily advancing high-level opening-up through the "Two Zones" initiative, has implemented over 120 breakthrough policies and introduced the "Beijing Foreign Investment Regulations" and the "Global Service Partners Plan" to enhance services for foreign investment, enterprises, and talent, creating new opportunities for foreign-funded enterprises in Beijing.
Shunyi District, a key平原新城 (plain new town) and important international gateway of the capital, leverages the advantages of the Beijing Capital International Airport super hub, hosting nearly 1,000 foreign-funded enterprises and nearly 10,000 foreign residents. The Beijing China-Germany Economic and Technical Cooperation Pilot Zone, approved by the NDRC and implemented by Shunyi District, is China's first park focused on "economic and technical cooperation" with Germany and Europe. It has attracted 120 German-funded and related enterprises, with an annual industrial scale exceeding RMB 40 billion.
In the future, Shunyi District will use the Beijing China-Germany Industrial Cooperation Development Forum—China-Germany (Europe) Hidden Champions Forum as a window and high-level opening-up as an engine to deepen cooperation with Germany and Europe, create more application scenarios for German (European) enterprises in Beijing and Shunyi, and promote further understanding, engagement, and investment from Hidden Champions and international institutions, forming more vivid cases of development through opening-up.
