New York, United States of America

December 12, 2019

“2019, a Turbulent Year for the US and China Relationship. What can we expect from 2020?” was the title for the 2019 Christmas holiday breakfast in NYC. Mr. Rong Yang, Vice President, Head of Hematology Marketing, Bayer US LLC, shared his perspective on the current status of the US-China relationship with a focus on the trade issue. The US has since long-time chronic trade imbalance. With EU, NAFTA countries Canada and Mexico and China, the United States runs a large volume of trade deficit. Since President Trump laid his focus on solving trade issues, it is logical that he had the three trading partners in his focus, China in particular. Read more

Beijing – Dunhuang – Chongqing – Guilin – Hong Kong

October 20 – November 2, 2019

From October 20 to November 15, Global Bridges travelled to China and Hong Kong for the fifteenth time. According to the topic of this year’s Study Trip „From the Ancient Silk Road to Today’s Belt and Road Initiative“, we followed the political and economic developments and challenges China is facing today. Read more

Addis Ababa – Accra

September 15 – 22, 2019

Compared to China, whose population will remain at 1.4 billion by 2050, the population of Africa will grow from the current 1.3 billion to 2.3 billion. The challenges involved are enormous, but so are the opportunities for the “Continent of the Century”. Time for Global Bridges to get their own impressions of Africa in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) and Ghana (Accra).

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Berlin, Germany

June 24/25, 2019

Topic: China as a Global Competitor: Implications for Europe

On 25 June 2019 the Fourth Walther Leisler Kiep Symposium discussed the challenges and opportunities of China’s rise.

After generations of passive introspection, China is reappearing as an active power, engaging in foreign policy, staking out its geostrategic, territorial and technologic claims. The real competitor of the USA is no longer Russia. It is China – a China that is no longer imitating and copying western technology but taking the lead in some of the most advanced technologies: artificial intelligence, digital communication, bio-sciences, automotive solutions.

Two giants, the USA and China, overshadow a Europe that finds itself stuck uncomfortably in the middle. China is one of our most important markets. Europe – and even more so the USA – provides an important market for China. We are dependent on imports from China in some key technologies. We do not have a European champion to stand up to Huawei.

China has woken up. It is time we wake up from the dreams and illusions that we formed in our past. This Symposium has certainly shaken us up from some comfortable dreams. That is why we should all give our sincere thanks to those who organized this event and to those who let us share in their vast experience and wisdom.

For the full report from Dr. Rudolf Adam please click below

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Moscow – St. Petersburg

May 26 – June 1, 2019

This year’s Study Trip to Russia was set on the backdrop of a few key objectives: 1) to obtain a perspective on the political status quo and mindset in Russia in light of recent years’ political tensions (and sanctions) with the Western World, 2) to learn about the technological activities in Russia in both the private sector and start-up world and 3) to put these themes into perspective with the developments in the West.

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