Themed “Dialogue Among Civilizations and Practical Cooperation: New Practices in China-Germany Cooperation in the New Era,” a readers’ exchange event on the German edition of the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China was held in Frankfurt, Germany, on October 7.

Xie Gang, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG); Huang Yiyang, consul general of China in Frankfurt; Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder and chairman of the Schiller Institute in Germany; Michael Merz, mayor of Ransbach-Baumbach, Germany; Li Dong, president of the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Frankfurt and branch manager of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in Frankfurt; Cord Eberspächer, a German sinologist, historian and professor at the University of Bonn; Elma Stumpf, chairman of the China Network in Baden-Württemberg; Waldemar Pelz, professor emeritus at Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen; Martina Güttler, coordinator for Chinese affairs in Königstein, Germany; and Zhao Wei, chief representative of the European Office of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), attended the event and shared their thoughts.

Xie Gang.

In his keynote address, Xie Gang said that the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China comprehensively presents the latest achievements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, providing an authoritative resource for people in Germany and across Europe to understand Chinese modernization. China and Germany can draw on the wisdom in the book to overcome cognitive biases, explore new models of mutual learning between civilizations, leverage their complementary industrial strengths to deepen practical cooperation in areas such as intelligent manufacturing and green energy, and uphold multilateralism. By working together to expand two-way opening up and shoulder global responsibilities, the two countries can inject positive momentum into prosperity and stability in Europe, thus contributing to peace and development in the world.

Huang Yiyang.

Huang Yiyang told the gathering that the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China has opened a new window for Germans to gain a deeper understanding of China’s development path and policy philosophy, while injecting fresh impetus into exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and German civilizations. This year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), in which China is vigorously developing new quality productive forces, advancing green transformation, and continuing to expand high-standard opening up. The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative are working in concert to contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to global efforts to address shared challenges. Huang stressed that mutual learning between civilizations and practical cooperation form an important foundation for the steady and sustained development of China-Germany relations, and encouraged German readers to know more about China through reading.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche said that studying the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is an important way to explore the secrets behind the breakthrough achievements of the Chinese model. At a time when much of the world is mired in turmoil, China has maintained stable development momentum while continuing to contribute insights toward world peace and development. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the deeper reasons behind China’s development miracle, the best starting point is to grasp the core ideas and philosophical foundations underlying Xi Jinping’s approach to governance. She called on people to study the book with an open mind and learn about the internal logic driving China’s development.

Michael Merz.

Michael Merz said in his remarks that openness creates opportunities, and cooperation enables all sides to move toward a shared future. Taking the ceramic industry in his city and its exchanges with industrial and cultural partners in Fujian Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China as examples, he shared his experience of people-to-people cooperation at the local level. He noted that the current tension in global affairs makes multilateralism all the more valuable. Merz said the four global initiatives proposed by China have brought certainty to the world, adding that China is Germany’s important partner, and practical China-Germany cooperation will continue to benefit the world.

Li Dong.

Li Dong observed that the important exposition in the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China about Chinese modernization and high-standard opening up has guided economic, trade and financial cooperation between China and Germany. He said that China and Germany are major economies with highly complementary industrial strengths. ICBC will continue to serve as a link for business cooperation, leverage the strength of finance to support practical China-Germany cooperation, and promote sustained progress of the bilateral relations in the new era.

Cord Eberspächer.

Professor Cord Eberspächer commented that the publication of the German edition of the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China would help enhance German society’s understanding of China. He said that currently the German public's understanding of China remains limited today, often shaped by a Western lens. The book offers a clear presentation of China’s policy direction, governance philosophy, and international positioning, providing an authoritative text for people from all sectors in Germany to better understand China’s path and approach to governance. In his view, the so-called “China shock” narrative stems from a lack of objective and in-depth observation of China among certain observers. Studying this book, he said, is a good starting point for gaining a better understanding of the real China.

Elma Stumpf explained that it is of particular significance to hold a reading exchange on the German edition of the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China during the Frankfurt Book Fair and use the event as an opportunity to discuss China-Germany economic and trade cooperation. Studying the book helps readers understand China’s development philosophy. As the world’s second- and third-largest economies, China and Germany’s economic and trade cooperation is grounded in mutual respect and mutual benefit, with significance extending beyond the bilateral sphere. He said that the China Network in Baden-Württemberg stands ready to help enterprises from both countries expand steadily in each other’s markets and enhance the well-being of people in both countries through practical cooperation.

Waldemar Pelz.

Waldemar Pelz believes that the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China helps the international community better understand China’s systems and conveys a willingness to foster trust and cooperation. The book emphasizes that, in the face of a new scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, it is essential to cultivate people equipped with scientific literacy, strong moral character and sound values, while always putting people first. He noted, this approach to talent cultivation is consistent with the laws of modern scientific development while also drawing on the insights of China’s fine traditional culture. He expressed hope that more people in Germany would use the book as a means to deepen their understanding of China.

Martina Güttler.

Meanwhile, Martina Güttler noted that people-to-people exchanges serve as a bridge for building mutual trust and that Chinese and German companies each have their own strengths. Germany boasts mature technologies and well-established quality standards, while China has demonstrated strong innovation in digitalization, intelligent manufacturing and sustainable development technologies. She pointed out that exchanges between young people are particularly important. The two sides should approach their differences candidly, respect each other’s positions and build trust through sustained interactions, using people-to-people exchanges to forge reliable bonds of cooperation.

Zhao Wei.

Drawing on Sinopec’s four decades of experience in Germany, Zhao Wei said that the global governance vision embodied in the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, as emphasized in the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, reflects Chinese insights, and that China-Germany cooperation should be guided by the principles of respecting differences and pursuing mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. As a Chinese company with a long-standing presence in the European market, Sinopec will continue to advance practical coordination and encourage deeper mutual understanding between the Chinese and German peoples through mutual learning between civilizations.

During the event, the Chinese representatives presented the German edition copies of the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China to their German counterparts.

A readers’ exchange event on the German edition of the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is held in Frankfurt, Germany, on October 7, 2026.

The event was guided by CICG and the Consulate General of China in Frankfurt and hosted by China International Book Trading Corporation. More than 70 representatives from political, business, cultural, artistic, and educational communities in China and Germany attended the event.