Spies Oliver from Nordrhein-Westfalen donates blood in Taicang, Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: taicangdaily]

Though he can only speak a little Chinese, Oliver managed to make the donation with help from a blood station. "A friend of mine told me that there are few donors as people are avoid going out, and so I decided it was my turn to help those in need." Spies Oliver, a 29-year-old technology guide at Mubea Discsprings Taicang, volunteered to donate 300ml of blood to help fight COVID-19.

Oliver came to Taicang in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the city's working and living environment. He often donates to charity and volunteers in his spare time.

Since the first German company opened in Taicang in 1993, an increasing number of German companies have come to the city. They are involved in a wide range of fields, including high-end equipment manufacturing and auto parts.

Taicang has also set up platforms to promote the development of German enterprises there, including a cooperation and innovation park and a China-Germany international education park.

By year 2019, over 330 German enterprises had invested in Taicang, and the city has become one of the most concentrated hubs for German enterprises in China.