STORY: German firms ramp up investment, not to miss out on China's growth opportunities
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Aug. 25, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:22
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Shanghai, China
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): OLE GERDAU, Chief Operating Officer at Deutsche Bank China
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HUBERTUS TROSKA, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MAXIMILIAN FOERST, President and CEO, ZEISS Greater China

STORYLINE:

German direct investment in China reached 7.3 billion euros (8.04 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of the year.

That's according to the Financial Times, citing data from the Bundesbank, Germany's central bank.

For comparison, the total investment stood at 6.5 billion euros in 2023.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): OLE GERDAU, Chief Operating Officer at Deutsche Bank China
"We are practically investing in China. We've just made significant investments in our operation capacity in Tianjin. We've just hired five research analysts, senior research analysts in covering Greater China in key growth sectors, such as renewable and utility, consumer discretionary, automation and industrials. We'll be investing in enhancing our technology that will be a key focus area for us to better serve our local clients. We are constantly on the lookout for more opportunities."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HUBERTUS TROSKA, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG
"Mercedes-Benz is very confident about China, both the economy and the market. This is the biggest and fastest-growing market in the world (for us), and we've been here for many years. The relations with China are super important. The German economy and the Chinese economy are great trade partners."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MAXIMILIAN FOERST, President and CEO, ZEISS Greater China
"I am extremely positive on basically the general trajectory because the investments are being done in the right place. We are now seeing China transferring from a quantity-driven economy to more of a quality and innovation (-driven economy)."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)