[Dateline: Recent]

Storyline:
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's upcoming visit to China will help the two countries build up mutual trust, expand economic and trade cooperation, and promote ties between the world's second largest economy and the wider European Union (EU), two experts in international affairs from China and Germany said recently.

Jiang Feng, chairman of the Shanghai International Studies University Council, and Michael Borchmann, former director general of the European and International Affairs Department in Germany's Hesse state, shared their insights into the importance of Scholz's forthcoming China trip from April 14 to 16 with China Media Group. They both stressed the need for the two major countries to enhance bilateral ties at a time when profound changes are taking place around the world.

To Borchmann, China remains an important economic and trading partner to Germany and an attractive destination for German investors, using the growing presence of Germany's chemical giant BASF and leading technology and service company Bosch Group in the country as examples.

Borchmann expressed the hope that Scholz's trip will help bolster cooperation between China and the EU.

Shotlist:
FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown:
1. Aerial shots of Tian'anmen Rostrum, ornamental column;
FILE: Berlin, Germany - Date Unknown:
2. Reichstag building;
China - Recent:
3. SOUNDBITE (German) Jiang Feng, chairman, Shanghai International Studies University Council (partially overlaid with shots 4-5):
"I think the question of trust will be an important one for both sides, because that is indeed an important issue for the further development of Sino-German relations. As you can see, the world has changed dramatically in the last few years. Europe and Germany have undergone profound changes, and China is developing and changing rapidly as well. However, our perception of each other continues to lag behind the reality of development. I believe the politicians and government officials in both countries have already recognized that there are flaws in both sides’ perception of the other, but I very much hope that the situation has not only been seen, but also be improved in due time.";
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown:
4. Aerial shots of Tian'anmen Rostrum, Chinese national flag;
FILE: Berlin, Germany - Date Unknown:
5. German national flag;
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
FILE: Changsha City, Hunan Province, central China - Date Unknown:
6. Aerial shots of BASF Shanshan Battery Materials Co., Ltd;
7. Aerial shot of sign reading "BASF Shanshan Battery Materials Research Institution";
Germany - Recent:
8. SOUNDBITE (German) Michael Borchmann, former director general, European and International Affairs Department, Hesse state:
"The market growth there and the current performance suggest that BASF will benefit more from business there [in China]. That's why we decided to invest. China is the largest chemical market in the world. The market in the region accounts for 50 percent of the total chemical market. It will continue to grow, significantly more than in all other regions.";
FILE: Shanghai, China - Jan 5, 2021:
9. Aerial shot of Bosch factory;
10. Various of machines in operation;
Germany - Recent:
11. SOUNDBITE (German) Michael Borchmann, former director general, European and International Affairs Department, Hesse state:
"And for Bosch, China is important not only because many raw materials for the core business of the world's largest auto supplier come mainly from there, but also because the group has 55,000 employees there and accounts for a fifth of its global sales.";
FILE: Jiangsu Province, east China - Date Unknown:
12. Various of staff at work, high-tech factory machines working;
13. Crane lifting containers;
14. Aerial shot of container ships;
Germany - Recent:
15. SOUNDBITE (German) Michael Borchmann, former director general, European and International Affairs Department, Hesse state:
"And the prospects in China mentioned by the two companies are also available to companies across Europe, especially since China's move to develop science-based cutting-edge technologies makes cooperation essential in order not to lose touch. China, for its part, is providing additional guidance, especially for EU member states that need to catch up in terms of infrastructure.";
FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown:
16. Aerial shot of traffic on Chang'an Avenue;
FILE: Berlin, Germany - Date Unknown:
17. Reichstag building;
Germany - Recent:
18. SOUNDBITE (German) Michael Borchmann, former director general, European and International Affairs Department, Hesse state:
"If the German chancellor, accompanied by several ministers, is now visiting China as a representative of an outstanding EU member state, I see this as an important signal for the EU as a whole that a further courageous expansion of cooperation with China is essential.";
FILE: Shanghai, China - 2018:
19. Building of Volkswagen Group China;
20. Volkswagen Group China sign.