Berlin Jan. 07, 2011 KHD was one of 11 German companies to sign cooperation agreements during the two-day Chinese delegation to Berlin, headed by Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang, who many predict will be the future leader of China. On Jan 06 German Economic Minister Rainer Brüderle hosted a gala dinner for the Chinese guests and leaders from the German industry, including CATIC Beijing Co., Ltd. President Diao Weicheng and KHD Humboldt Wedag International AG CEO Jouni Salo. During his dinner address Mr. Li Keqiang spoke about the continued growth in China, the strong development of the Chinese-German relationship, which has become a strategic partnership where trade volume between the two countries will reach USD 140 billion in 2010. As the largest investor in the Chinese economy, Li Keqiang praised Germany for making such a large contribution in building up the country.

Li also made the proposal that both countries should work together in the areas of mechanical engineering, telecommunication, electronics, logistics as well as in the automobile and chemical industries. He stressed that it is very important for China to develop the cooperation between the two countries in the areas renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmental protection. The Chinese market will also become more open and fair for investors according to the vice premier.

Mr. Li Keqiang’s speech was welcomed by the German guests and German Economic minister, Rainer Brüderle, expressed his willingness to promote the Chinese-German trade relationship and extended the invitation to China to be a partner country at the Hannover-Exhibition 2012.

The cooperation agreement between CATIC Beijing Co., Ltd and KHD Humboldt Wedag International AG was signed by Mr. Diao Weicheng and Mr. Jouni Salo in front of Chinese and German officials including Mr. Gao Hucheng, Vice Minister of Ministry of Commerce of China, Mr. Li Ping, Assistant President at CATIC parent company AVIC, Zhang Yujing, head of the Chinese trade delegation and President of the China Chamber of Commerce for the Import and Export of Machinery & Electronic Products and Dr. Karl Brauner from the German Ministry of Economics and Technology.

CATIC Beijing President Diao Weicheng expressed his “sincere gratitude to both governments for their support in making this important agreement happen”. Mr Diao Weichung also noted that "with a strong partner like KHD, CATIC can now increase its cement activities worldwide and bid on jobs where we could not bid in the past." He goes on to say "we are already jointly offering on several projects for various global cement producers and expect to benefit greatly from this partnership”.

KHD CEO Jouni Salo noted “the partnership agreement between KHD and CATIC further cements the relationship between both countries and is a win-win situation for CATIC and KHD.” Salo goes on to say that “KHD has now doubled its market exposure. This relationship will open the Chinese market, which is 50% of global cement capacity. KHD will be also more competitive and by combining the best of East and West, we can now offer a new and more attractive EPC option for cement plant projects.”