Even though Jilin province's ties with Germany have grown quite close, its Party secretary Bayinchaolu says he is trying to find opportunities for even closer ties.

The Party secretary went on a three-day mission to make good on his promise by visiting major cities in Lower Saxony and attending a trade meeting with local entrepreneurs.

Bayinchaolu was able to deliver a keynote speech to describe Jilin's economic situation and its policies on reforms and opening up and explained, "We're seeking further cooperation in the area of industrial parks, technology, education and tourism."

Jilin Party Secretary Bayinchaolu meeting with Volkswagen's CEO, at the head of a provincial delegation on a visit to Germany to seek closer relations and business partners, May 22-24. [Photo by Song Kai/chinajilin.com.cn]

The Germans taking part in the meeting were able to get a better understanding of Jilin's overall socioeconomic development and its restructuring, while the Jilin delegates explained that they were looking for closer relations with Germany, especially in automobiles, petrochemicals, and top equipment manufacturing. In fact, Volkswagen started a joint venture with China's FAW Group in the city of Changchun, back in the early 1990s.

The trade meeting revealed even closer cooperation in some projects in biomass energy, foodstuff, natural gas, and auto parts, which, combined, amount to 6.6 billion yuan in investment, on which Stephan Weil, the minister president of Lower Saxony, commented, "We're confident in increasing our bilateral relations and we propose to set up a regular meeting to discuss cooperation matters."