On April 20, Wu Bing, Vice President of the BPAFFC, received a six-member German economic and innovation delegation led by Beitrag von Sascha Kurfiss, a board member of Gesellschaft für Deutsch-Chinesische Verständigung e.V. (GDCV). The two sides exchanged views on deepening China-Germany non-governmental friendship and enhancing pragmatic cooperation in the digital economy.
Wu stated that China and Germany are comprehensive strategic partners, and the leaders of both countries agreed that the two should be reliable partners that support each other, be innovative partners featuring openness and mutual benefit, and be cultural partners built on mutual understanding and friendship. As Beijing is vigorously developing new quality productive forces and pursuing high-quality development, the BPAFFC is ready to work with GDCV to continue serving as a bridge and strengthening exchanges and pragmatic cooperation between innovative enterprises in Beijing and Germany. Sascha Kurfiss thanked the BPAFFC for its hospitality and said that the delegation was visiting with a learning mindset, in hopes of knowing more about Beijing’s innovative practices in the digital economy.
In-depth visit
The BPAFFC arranged for the delegation to visit Kuaishou Technology, the Zhongguancun Internet 3.0 Industrial Park, and JD MALL, offering them an engaging innovation journey. From virtual spaces to brick-and-mortar stores, the delegation gained firsthand insight into Beijing’s new model of integrating digital technology with the real economy.
Kuaishou Technology: experiencing new vitality in digital living
At Kuaishou Technology’s headquarters, the delegation toured the live rooms, control rooms, corporate culture exhibition area, and lifestyle service zone. In a green-screen live room, delegation members took turns sitting in front of the camera to experience virtual livestreaming technology. In the cultural and creative product display area, they were drawn to a variety of branded merchandise and shopped their favorite items.
During the talk, the delegation learned in detail about the platform’s basic operations and the market development strategies for its overseas versions, including those in Brazil and Indonesia. The two sides engaged in an in-depth exchange on various topics such as the globalization of digital marketing and virtual digital applications, exploring how digital technology can empower the real economy. Delegation members showed strong interest in e-commerce livestreaming operations and the application of artificial intelligence in short-form content, saying that they would stay in touch with Kuaishou Technology to discuss issues together.
Zhongguancun Internet 3.0 Industrial Park: getting hands-on with futuristic technologies
The delegation observed the park’s industrial ecosystem and supporting policies. In response to German entrepreneurs’ question on how to attract start-ups, the park authorities elaborated on the incubation model featuring rent-free periods and full-chain services. The practical measures of “nest building to attract phoenixes” were highly commended by the delegation.
In the Zhongke Cloud innovation exhibition area, delegation members put on MR glasses and immersed themselves in an industrial-grade mixed reality training scenario. They witnessed firsthand the virtual disassembly and reassembly of an engine and experienced how 3D digital technology enables remote collaborative training for high-voltage transformer maintenance and repair. The delegation was deeply impressed by this innovative integration of digital technology into manufacturing workflows, with members exclaiming it was “incredible.”
JD MALL: getting a taste of online-merge-offline retail
At JD MALL (Beijing Shuangjing Branch), the delegation immersed themselves in a new online-merge-offline (OMO) consumption model, focusing on the application of cutting-edge digital technology in retail settings.
From smart home scenarios to the esports experience zone, delegation members asked questions about supply chain management and after-sales service systems. At the tech interactive zone, they watched a dance performance by humanoid robots identical to those seen at China’s Spring Festival Gala, getting up close to the agility and sophistication of homegrown smart devices. They also visited the esports interactive zone and digital consumption scenarios such as a robot making coffee. Delegation members remarked that the on-site visit gave them a more tangible understanding of how digital technology is empowering the transformation and upgrading of traditional commerce in China, and they spoke highly of JD’s innovative practices in enhancing consumer experiences.
This visit deepened the German delegation’s understanding of Beijing’s digital economy development and also laid solid groundwork for future pragmatic cooperation in areas such as technological innovation and the digital economy. Looking ahead, the BPAFFC will continue to serve as a bridge to facilitate exchanges in economy, trade, science and technology, culture, and youth programs, cement popular support for non-governmental friendship, and make greater contributions to deepening the China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership.
