Insights | Accompanying journalist in Scholz's delegation finds China's changes 'overwhelming'

(ECNS) -- As his three-day China trip was nearing its end on Tuesday evening, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the Goethe-Institut China, a German cultural center in Beijing, and a typical Beijing-dish restaurant within the 798 Art District and interacted with representatives from the cultural and social sectors.

Established in 1988, the Goethe-Institut is dedicated to promoting the German language, fostering China-Germany cultural cooperation, and disseminating the latest information from Germany, according to the center.

China News Network interviewed Stephan Detjen, a senior German journalist accompanying Scholz’s delegation to China, who shared his impressions on this China trip.

“It’s overwhelming whenever I come to China, how cities like Chongqing, which I saw 36 years ago, have changed, how the country is growing, how the economy is growing, and how everything is getting enormously modern,” Detjen said, who made his first visit to China in 1988 when he was still a student.

“Every German Chancellor is really impressed by the development China made and has been making in the past years,” he said.

While visiting the 798 Art Center, Detjen was interested in the original German Bauhaus-style old industrial building, an industrial design from architects of East Germany, which now has been transformed into a modern art and cultural space. “We also see (the designs) in some European cities and I hope this is a very innovative and creative space here,” he said.

Stephan is familiar with the art and cultural communication between China and Germany. “We want to learn about China. Germans are extremely interested in China and Chinese society. I think Germans want to learn about Chinese art, culture, science, and there’s a lot of cooperation between German universities and Chinese universities,” he said.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, during Scholz’s visit to Beijing, leaders of the two countries had candid and in-depth exchanges on China-Germany relations and agreed to continue enhancing strategic communication, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, and advancing sound and steady growth of China-EU relations.