STORY: German official sees trade ties with China as key to stability, growth
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 24, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 14, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:07
LOCATION: Berlin
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the route
2. various of containers
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FRANK DOODS, State secretary in Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Transport, Construction and Digitization
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): FRANK DOODS, State secretary in Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Transport, Construction and Digitization
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): FRANK DOODS, State secretary in Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Transport, Construction and Digitization

STORYLINE:

Stable and cooperative trade relations between Germany and China are of great value, benefiting both economic growth and global climate protection, a German official told Xinhua in a recent interview.
   
Frank Doods, state secretary in the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Transport, Construction and Digitization, made the remarks as he reflected on the launch of the China-Europe Express, which connects Europe and China's Yangtze River Delta region.

The first container ship on this route arrived last month in Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, completing a non-stop voyage in just 26 days -- nearly 20 days shorter than traditional shipping routes.
   
Doods highlighted the new route's impact, noting that time is a crucial factor for production, sales and supply chains.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FRANK DOODS, State secretary in Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Transport, Construction and Digitization
"I think it's very, very important because global working needs the fast lane to get all the materials and things and products for processing. And time is the main factor. When we see that it's possible to get things between 25, 26 days to Europe, I think it's a win-win for both sides."

Doods expressed hope that the new route would become a milestone in the longstanding trade relationship between Lower Saxony and China, which has seen decades of fruitful cooperation.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): FRANK DOODS, State secretary in Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Transport, Construction and Digitization
"I think we've seen a lot of investments on both sides in the last (decades). Volkswagen is a main factory from Lower Saxony. I see here in Wilhelmshaven and Cuxhaven nearby, there are Chinese companies (which) are investing there and producing there. That's a good development for us."   

Beyond trade and transport, Doods highlighted renewable energy as another growing area of cooperation.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): FRANK DOODS, State secretary in Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Transport, Construction and Digitization
"Environment is a main point for both sides. I see solar energy and wind energy, it's important, I see the development in China. We are a big player with renewable energy in Lower Saxony as well. So, there are a lot of points (of) common interest. So there are a lot of trade opportunities in this sector, especially."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Berlin.
(XHTV)