Video Call between Global Bridges and the China Institute for International and Strategic Studies (CIISS)

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Thursday, October 15, 2020

After the First Chinese-German Video Symposium on September 19, the Chinese side wanted to discuss the problems between Germany and China and China and the EU in a separate conference, ahead of the second video symposium in November. On the Chinese side, Maj. Gen. (ret.) XU Nanfeng, Vice Chairman of the CIISS as well as retired Senior Colonels CHEN Wei, BAI Zonglin, and YU Hanmin, all of whom are Senior Research Fellows at the CIISS, were present. On the German side, the guest speakers were Professor Dr. h.c. Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, and Jörg Wuttke, Vice President and Chief Representative of BASF in China as well as President of the European Chamber of Commerce in China. The debate was moderated by Dr. Hans Albrecht, Chairman of Global Bridges and Dr. Beate Lindemann, Executive Chairman of Global Bridges.

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First German-Chinese Video Symposium: Indo-Pacific Security Challenges

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September 17, 2020

Central to the First Chinese-German Video Symposium between Global Bridges and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies (CIISS) were the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, exemplified by such issues as the South China Sea territorial dispute, arms control, and great power rivalry. As was mentioned in the “Policy Guidelines on the Indo-Pacific Region” by the German Foreign Office, the key to shaping international order is the Indo-Pacific, and so the conference was regarded by all sides to be one of great importance for present and future.

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Video conference of the participants of the Study Trips to Africa

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September 8, 2020

On September 8, 2020 we continued our virtual journey on the African continent and our members came together for a video conference on the topic “Rwanda – an innovative pioneer on the African continent?”. Our guest speakers Renate Charlotte Lehner, First Secretary and Head of Administration and Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Kigali, and Sangwa Rwabuhihi, General Manager of the Westerwelle Startup House Kigali, provided us with extensive insights into the development of Rwanda and informed us about the start-up scene in Rwanda’s capital Kigali. Read more

Russia – quo Vadis?

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August 25, 2020

In preparation for our video conference “Russia – quo Vadis?” on August 25, 2020 we had followed the news about Russia with excitement in the last weeks. In the light of the current events, our guest speaker, retired Ambassador Rüdiger von Fritsch, German Ambassador to Russia from 2014 to 2019, had numerous questions to discuss. Dr. Angela E. Stent, Professor at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and Director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and Eastern European Studies, moderated and completed the discussion. Both have recently written a book on Russia. Von Fritsch’s “Russlands Weg. Als Botschafter in Moskau” will be published in autumn 2020. Dr. Stents “Putin’s World” was published in early 2019.

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Mutual interest, brave decisions and real commitment. The future of European-African relations

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15 July, 2020

On July 15, our video conference on “Europe and Africa as partners” took place. Just in time for the German EU Council Presidency, our guest speaker Günter Nooke, the German Chancellor’s Personal Representative for Africa, provided deep insights into the relationship between Europe and the African continent. We discussed the challenges and opportunities of a forward-looking partnership. The evening was moderated by Dr. Christiane Kraus, Africa expert in international development cooperation. Read more

The West and China & Hong Kong – tensions and an open future

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June 22, 2020

The focus of our video conference on June 22 was China and the West. It was an exciting discussion between two experts in this field: Wolfgang Niedermark, representative of the German industry and Chairman of the German Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, and Dr. Hubert Lienhard, former Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Industry and CEO of Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA. Quickly, it became clear that Europe will play a major role in this discussion. According to the panelists, Europe has to find its own independent role in the decoupling process between the two world powers USA and China, and Germany would have to play a central role in this process. In these difficult times, Germany had the responsibility to strengthen rather than weaken transatlantic relations. The informative and lively discussion ended with a committed plea for a strong Europe. Dr. Beate Lindemann introduced and moderated the discussion.

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“We zoom there” – “Europe in crisis: how is the European Union holding together?” With David McAllister

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June 4, 2020

On Thursday 4 June, Global Bridges members came together for a video conference on the topic “Europe in crisis: how is the European Union holding together?”. Guest speaker of the evening was David McAllister, MEP and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, who provided the participants with an exciting and insightful impression of current challenges the European Union is facing. The discussion was moderated by our member and Young Leader Dr. Daniel Bloemers, who works as a policy officer for international relations at the European Commission.

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Briefing on the current situation in Jordan with Ambassador Birgitta Siefker-Eberle

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May 28, 2020

After zooming into the exciting region around Israel, we virtually travelled further into the neighboring country – across the Dead Sea to a land of desert: Jordan.

In our video conference, the German ambassador in Amman, Birgitta Siefker-Eberle, reported on the current situation in Jordan and we experienced live under what strict conditions the country is trying to contain the Corona virus. Our video conference ran for exactly one hour and fifteen minutes. Afterwards, Ms Siefker-Eberle and her driver had to be home in time before the sirens sounded, as there is a strict curfew from 6 pm to 7 am. Read more

Israel, the Middle East and the Coronacrisis

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May 18/25, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic challenges all societies. It changes their dynamics and the routines of their people. The Middle East and especially Israel are particularly affected by this development, as both Dr Asher Susser on May 18 and Dr Gershon Baskin on May 25 explained to us in the two Global Bridges video conferences on Israel. Both are leading Israeli Middle East experts and well known friends of Global Bridges through our many study trips: Susser is Senior Fellow at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle East Studies and Baskin is founder and co-chair of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI). The conferences were chaired by Dr Steven Althaus, former Chief Marketing Officer, BMW AG & Credit Suisse Group, who created a pleasant and constructive atmosphere for discussion. The introduction of the topic and speakers was taken on by Dr Beate Lindemann.

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XXXIX Berlin Global Forum

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Berlin, Germany

January 29, 2020

Across the African continent, innovative startups are on the rise. Young entrepreneurs are harnessing technology and creating digital solutions with the potential both to stimulate growth and to address some of the most critical challenges the continent is facing – from access to health care to financial inclusion and market access. At our XXXIX Berlin Global Forum on January 29, 2020, Global Bridges members and Young Leader Alumni had the great opportunity to discuss opportunities and challenges of this growing startup scene and its potential for sustainable development.

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