In the past 30 years of collaboration with Germany, Taicang, a county-level city in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, has emerged as a key hub and demonstration zone for Sino-German cooperation.

This year, 27 new enterprises have established operations in Taicang, bringing the total number of German-invested companies in this city to over 500. These companies have partnered with more than 800 local enterprises and research institutions in various areas, such as industry cooperation, research and development, and talent development.

Taicang prioritizes talent cultivation for German-invested enterprises. The Sino-German Dual System Vocational Education Industrial Park is under construction to promote industry-education integration. AHK Academy, jointly built by the Taicang government and the German Chambers of Commerce Worldwide Network, has also been used this year to promote the training of highly professional talents and mutual recognition of vocational qualifications between China and Germany.

The city also values cultural and tourism exchanges with Germany, having organized various events, such as Sino-German football and table tennis matches and marathons, to cultivate a complete German atmosphere.

A view of Rothenburg Waterfront Street, a German-style business area in Taicang. [Photo/VCG]

Andre Hoeping, manager of Laubinger + Rickmann's wholly-owned subsidiary in Taicang, highlighted the city's superior geographical location, German-inspired ambiance, and well-established infrastructure as key factors that attracted the company to Taicang. He said that Taicang provides a sense of home and fully lives up to its reputation as the "home of German enterprises".

Looking ahead, Taicang aims to expand cooperation with other German-speaking countries and broaden its engagement with Europe to foster new quality productive forces.