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the document’s authors, the improving relations with the emerging economies
should translate into signing contracts and facilitating the German companies’
access to this market. This can be achieved by using the instruments aimed to
support German companies operating abroad, and by pursuing an appropriate
trade policy. These contacts could also be used to promote political, social
and economic goals, such as further trade liberalisation, and to set clear
rules of supporting exports in order to avoid dumping, ensure stable supplies
of raw materials, promote the development of renewable sources of
energy and prevent global epidemics. The document also emphasises that
the possibilities of citizens’ organisations and entities not directly linked
with the state have as yet not been explored to a sufficient degree. This
sphere of contacts generates great potential for increasing the variety of forms of
cooperation and the efficiency of foreign policy. To this end, measures of cultural
and educational policy could be used in the form of support for the exchange of
representatives of cultural and civil society organisations. One example of this
kind of cooperation is the Asia-Europe Meetings project, as part of which meetings
with experts from emerging economies are organised. Initiatives focused
on promoting German culture in countries which Germany is mostly interested
in and the promotion of their culture in Germany could also be elements of such
actions. Examples include the organisation in Germany of the Vietnam Year in
2010, the India Year in 2011 and the Chinese Culture Year in 2012.
2. Development aid
Development aid plays an important role in supporting German economic
relations. Even though the funds allocated to individual states are just
a small portion of their GDP, they create a positive image of Germany and
channel the aid to those specific sectors which are particularly attractive
to German companies. One example of such cooperation is found in Germany’s
relations with China. Germany launched closer cooperation with China
as early as 1982, and offered it development aid which helped the Chinese to
combat poverty and provided them with renewable energy development technologies.
Germany has continued to provide this aid in recent years, offering
help in eliminating the effects of natural disasters and promoting the positive
image of Germany. The 20th anniversary of German development aid to China,
organised by Beijing, was an opportunity to break the deadlock in diplomatic
relations which occurred after Angela Merkel had refused to take part in the
opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. German aid is highly
valued in China, and frequently results in an inflow of new technologies to the
country (Germany was the second largest donor after Japan).
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