2018年CRI SMEs innovate cooperation to highlight China-EU economic ties

 

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-EU comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership¹. It's also the 20th anniversary since the start of formal dialogue between the leadership of the two sides.

Cooperation between small and medium enterprises, SMEs, has become a pillar of the economic relationship between China and the European Union.

In 2006 an agreement was signed that established a mechanism² for dialogue between SMEs in China and Europe, with the aim of improving cooperation, and creating a favorable policy environment.

Wang Jiangping, from China's information industry ministry³, says that SMEs are the most dynamic business group, and have served as the backbone⁴ for economic growth in China and Europe.

"China has a total of 30 million small and medium enterprises, which account for more than 99 percent of the total number of enterprises. They contribute more than 50 percent of tax revenue, nearly 60 percent of Gross Domestic Product, file over 70 percent of invention patents, and provide over 80 percent of the job opportunities. They serve as a vital engine for China's economic growth, and are the main channel for start-ups, and an important source of innovation," Wang says.

In recent years, cooperation between China and Europe has steadily⁵ broadened, and its strategic importance has been increasing.

Jens Hildebrandt, a representative from the Delegation⁶ of German Industry and Commerce in Guangzhou, says that 99 percent of enterprises in Germany are SMEs, and that these businesses have become an important factor in spurring economic growth in Germany.

"Nowadays, more than 5,000 Germany companies are active in China. According to a recent report from the Germany daily newspaper "Handelsblatt", China has been Germany's most important economic partner for two consecutive⁷ years, and captured 10 percent of the sales in Germany. Export-oriented companies in Germany are in need of China's dynamic market. Cooperation between government and enterprises offers a driving force for bilateral⁸ cooperation," Hildebrandt adds.

In 2004, China and Germany signed a memorandum⁹ of understanding on cooperation between small and medium enterprises in China and Germany, a memorandum that established a regular mechanism for policy dialogues.

Under the guiding of China's information industry ministry, Zhong De Metal Group has set up a center in Germany for China's SMEs. The center provides services including finance, investment, law, human resources, and intellectual property.

Improved information sharing in these fields helps to reduce the risks and costs of overseas investment, and strengthens international competitiveness.

Yang Lixin is the director of the center.

"Chinese corporations overseas always have a need for coordination¹⁰. The demand of small and medium enterprises for for localization can be met by China's enterprise zones. We have achieved a balance between demands and needs, to attract investment and talent for the enterprise zones."

Last year China and Germany renewed their management training cooperation agreement that is targeted at SMEs. The renewed agreement further expands the scope of training and advances pragmatic cooperation among these enterprises.

1 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

2 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

5 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

6 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

7 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

8 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

9 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

10 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。