DIN's presence in China
DIN, the German Institute for Standardization, has set up an office in Beijing, China as of June 2013. The office will be headed by Klaus Ziegler who for many years has been active in China for the European standards organizations CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. During his time in China Ziegler gained extensive experience regarding Chinese standardization activities. The contract covering the opening of the Chinese office was signed last month in Berlin.
Being the contact partner for all issues regarding standardization in China, Klaus Ziegler will consult DIN with the aim of increasing Germany's presence in Chinese standardization as well as Chinese interest in German standardization, while at the same time supporting cooperation between DIN and its Chinese partners. In this way DIN is contributing to the enhancement of economic relations between the two countries.
To implement the German standardization strategy originally set down in 2004 and updated in 2010, DIN has set up a well-functioning network of standards organizations both within and outside Europe. Cooperation with Germany's most important trading partners - one of which is certainly China - has the highest priority. Well-functioning networks make it possible to directly address technical barriers to trade and to find common solutions. Strategic partnerships also play an essential role in representing German interests in international standards work.
Over the past three decades China has grown to become one of the world's leading trading nations and is Germany's most important trading partner in Asia. In 2012 German exports to China totalled 66.6 billion Euros which is equal to 6.1 % of all German exports. At the same time, Germany is China's most important European trading partner, with a total of 77.3 billion Euros in imports in 2012 alone. Because DIN Standards have had a high reputation within China for many years, they are very important for Chinese-German trade and are often used as the basis for tendering and supply contracts. This gives German exporters a great advantage because by referring to DIN Standards transaction costs are lowered and it is not necessary to adapt their products to foreign standards.
To prevent Germany's competitors from gaining an advantage, it is essential that the use of German, European and International Standards in China be actively promoted. Access to the Chinese market is made much easier for German exporters if DIN Standards are referred to in tendering procedures.
For more information on DIN's office in China contact DIN's International Cooperation Division.