With a commitment to building itself into a demonstration area for Sino-German cooperation, Taicang in East China's Jiangsu province is making efforts to boost bilateral investment and cooperation. It is striving to become home to more than 500 German-funded companies by 2025.

Since the first German enterprise was established in the Taicang High-tech Zone in 1993, the rigorous and excellence-seeking corporate culture of German companies has complemented the urban spirit of Taicang.

The area has become one of the most densely invested and well-developed areas for Sino-German enterprise investment in China, according to officials.

The total number of German-funded enterprises in Taicang has exceeded 470, with dominant industries including high-end equipment manufacturing, auto parts, aviation and aerospace.

On Dec 14, 2022, the 14th Taicang Day in Germany, took place in Bavaria's capital Munich. The annual conference, which has been held since 2008, addresses Suzhou-German innovation and cooperation.

This year's event marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany. Several high-profile companies, including Munich Airport Group and Rohde & Schwarz, participated in the event.

In addition, more than 100 guests from universities, media, environmental protection organizations and cultural exchanges attended.

The event has become a mechanism for economic and cultural exchanges between China and Germany.

Zhai Qian, minister of the economic and commercial office of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, said China's economy will continue to recover and that China will be more proactive in its opening-up policy.

The Chinese market will create broader opportunities and welcome more global partners to share them. In doing so, the Chinese market will inject new momentum into the world economy. Taicang is embracing more German companies in a bid to create more stories for success.

Markus Wittmann, head of the international department at the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Regional Development, was pleased that the investment from Germany and Bavaria in China has been successful and that the support from the Taicang and Suzhou governments has played a significant role in achieving this success.

In a video speech, Wang Xiangyuan, Party chief of Taicang city, said Taicang is committed to promoting high-level opening-up, creating a market-oriented, rule-of-law-based, and internationalized business environment that continuously optimizes the industry development ecosystem and accelerates the creation of a German-style living scene.

Since it began, the Taicang Day event has witnessed the continuous expansion of cooperation between Taicang and Germany.

Over the past 30 years, Taicang's efforts in Sino-German cooperation have been recognized by the governments of both China and Germany.

In November 2008, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Germany's ministry of economic affairs jointly recognized Taicang as a Sino-German enterprise cooperation base, which remains the only city awarded by the two departments.

Tao Shaoying, who comes from Hunan province, has lived in Taicang with her husband for many years. The couple owns a German-style bakery in Shaxi Ancient Town, a national 4A scenic spot in the city.

Tao's husband was born in Koblenz, a small city in Germany. Both he and Tao used to work in the mechanical equipment trade. Their work has taken them to hundreds of international cities. But the husband fell in love with Taicang at first sight.

At first, due to differences in eating culture, their authentic German bread was not well-received. However, in recent years, more German enterprises have come to Taicang, and more than 3,000 Germans are residing there. The German bakeries and restaurants opened by these German compatriots allowed them to taste the flavor of home.

"This place is great! We're not leaving!" Tao said.

In recent years, Taicang has organized activities such as the German beer festival, Sino-German friendship matches, and cultural and artistic exchanges, allowing Taicang residents to experience German culture and learn more about German style.

Therefore, Germans can enjoy Suzhou-style life in Taicang, and local residents can also feel German culture in Taicang.

The changes brought by German companies to Taicang are wide-reaching. A dual education system was also introduced, allowing more Taicang students to enter German companies and making this place a stage to pursue their careers.