The event, titled “Germany–China 2035: What Future Should We Plan For?”, took place at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) and was co-organized by the Berlin Contemporary China Network (BCCN). The panel brought together senior officials, scholars, and journalists from both countries to explore how diplomacy, education, and cultural cooperation can serve as stabilizing forces in times of political tension.

Speakers highlighted that while Germany and China may differ on key strategic issues, cultural and academic dialogue remains a vital channel for sustaining mutual understanding. Armin Reinartz, from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, stressed the importance of long-standing Sino-German university partnerships, language programs, and cultural institutes in promoting people-to-people diplomacy.

Yang Xifan, a journalist with deep insights into both countries, added that youth exchange and joint media projects could help reshape public narratives and foster greater empathy across borders. The panel underscored that embassies and cultural institutions, such as the Goethe-Institut and the Chinese Cultural Centre in Berlin, play a crucial role in shaping these initiatives.

Germany’s new China Strategy, adopted in 2023, reflects a balanced stance framing China as both a competitor and an indispensable partner. In this context, cultural diplomacy offers a flexible, non-confrontational avenue to deepen bilateral cooperation in education, the arts, science, and civil society.

Through events like this, Germany reiterates its commitment to multilateralism, intercultural dialogue, and academic openness—foundations of its international cultural relations policy. Cultural diplomacy thus emerges not only as a complement to traditional diplomacy but as a strategic tool for navigating uncertainty in global affairs.

• https://berlincontemporarychinanetwork.org/events/detail/paneldiskussion-deutschland-china-2035-mit-welcher-zukunft-sollen-wir-planen https://berlincontemporarychinanetwork.org/events/detail/paneldiskussion-deutschland-china-2035-mit-welcher-zukunft-sollen-wir-planen
• https://www.berlinglobal.org/index.php?germany-and-china-navigating-a-complex-partnership https://www.berlinglobal.org/index.php?germany-and-china-navigating-a-complex-partnership