Come to meet business professionals

METP is now seeking its fourth intake of participants, with an applicaton deadline of Jan 4, 2009. Dr. Stefan Hell, team leader of the EU-China Managers Exchange and Training Programme, spoke with China Daily reporter Wang Danna about past, present and future training sessions:

Q: Why has the European Commission and the government of China teamed up for the EU-China Managers Exchange and Training Programme (METP)?

Hell: METP addresses two crucial needs in EU-China business and trade relations which both concern the development of human resources of small and medium-size businesses, or SMEs: European managers of SMEs wishing to successfully do business in China must learn Chinese language and business culture. METP therefore provides seven months of Business Chinese language training, followed by three months of practical training during internships in China. Chinese managers of SMEs wishing to do business with the EU are, in turn, provided with seven-week intensive management training in Europe and also have the opportunity to apply what they learned during up to 21 weeks of internships in a European firm.