German delegation visits China

A productive visit

A high-level delegation consisting of representatives of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the German Institute for Standardization (Deutsches Institut für Normung - DIN), the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur - BNetzA) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology recently concluded a successful visit to China. The main purpose of the trip was to attend the Annual Meeting of the Sino-German Working Group on Product Safety. During their visit, the delegation engaged in meetings with relevant Chinese partners, the German Embassy and representatives from both the Chinese and German private sectors.

The delegation’s visit to Shenzhen

Following three-years of virtual meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the visit of the German delegation marked an important milestone in the bilateral relations between Germany and China in the areas of product safety and market surveillance. The delegation started its trip from 30 May to 06 June with a visit to Shenzhen, a city often referred to as China's Silicon Valley. In Shenzhen, the delegation engaged in important discussions with Shenzhen Customs, a key partner in the cooperation to reduce technical barriers to trade. This cooperation has facilitated the establishment of effective channels connecting German and European Union (EU) market surveillance authorities, companies and associations with their Chinese counterparts. By addressing product safety and conformity issues, non-compliant and unsafe products are removed from the market. This ensures fair competition and consumer protection, benefiting Germany, China and global markets.

With over 8,000 employees, Shenzhen Customs is the largest local customs authority below the state level. It plays a vital role in monitoring goods and products imported and exported through the ports of Shenzhen and Huizhou. At the same time, it is also responsible for handling customs operations, collecting duties, taxes, and fees. During the visit, GIZ, in cooperation with Shenzhen Customs, organised two workshops in which 400 company representatives participated both in person and virtually. The first workshop focused on the regulatory framework of the Digital Product Passport (DPP). Benjamin Helfritz from DIN and Patrick Gering from the Fraunhofer Institute delivered insightful presentations on the topic. They highlighted practical applications of the DPP such as the battery passport. The second workshop shed light on product requirements for information and communication technologies. It was supported with presentations by Stephan Winkelmann from the BNetzA and Benjamin Helfritz from DIN. The aim of these workshops was to provide Chinese customs authorities and companies with up to date information on EU and German product requirements. This should ultimately enhance compliance among Chinese companies circulating goods within the EU market.

Following the meetings and workshops in Shenzhen, the delegation proceeded to Beijing, the political capital of China. On the first day, the delegation engaged in productive meetings with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration for Customs (GACC). In the morning the delegates reviewed the regulatory framework and industrial approach of the DPP with MOFCOM. In addition, they discussed recent developments in E-Commerce in China and Germany as well as the formation of a single national market in China. In the afternoon, the delegation met with GACC, China's central customs authority. GACC plays a significant role in the development of the national customs system. It supervises local customs authorities, conducting inspections of imports and exports and coordinating international customs cooperation. As GACC is responsible for both import inspections and product safety within the Chinese market, its collaboration in reducing technical barriers to trade aligns with the objectives of the German delegation.

Promoting the digitalisation of Quality Infrastructure (QI)

On 05 June, the delegation engaged in the QI Dialogue with various departments of the State Administration of Market Regulations (SAMR). The dialogue focused on QI-Digital, an initiative led by PTB, DAkkS, BAM, DIN and DKE, which aims to develop digital technologies for a modern, agile and digital QI. The discussions also emphasised the role of digitalisation for the Quality Infrastructure in China. In the afternoon, the delegation co-chaired the Annual Meeting of the Working Group on Product Safety, held together with SAMR. The meeting resulted in the formulation of a new comprehensive Work Plan. This laid the foundation for concrete cooperation in various areas, including product regulations, E-Commerce and circular economy.

On the final day of the trip, the delegation met with the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to discuss recent developments in market surveillance of medical devices.

Strengthening bilateral relations

The German delegation's visit to China strengthened relations with Chinese partners and was marked by in-depth discussions that facilitated the exchange of ideas and expertise between Germany and China. It promoted cooperation in areas such as product safety, circular economy and market surveillance of E-Commerce. Moreover, the meetings revitalised personal contacts between BMWK and key stakeholders in China. The technical dialogues across all areas of quality infrastructure laid a solid foundation for continued cooperation between the two countries. Expert meetings and workshops are already planned to further consolidate cooperation and improve mutual understanding.

Information on upcoming events can be found on the website : Events