With a series of articles published on China and East Asia and his latest book "China's Foreign Affairs," 56-year-old Volker Stanzel resembles an academic rather than a diplomat. That is also certainly the first image he gives to visitors - talking with good learning and sound logic.

Stanzel, who once worked in China more than 10 years ago, said: "I think I will rewrite my articles and books on China now."

He was referring to those tremendous changes in the most populous country over the past 10 years.

Having barely spent two months since his arrival in Beijing, the newly-appointed ambassador has travelled to Shanghai three times and to Kunming once which he says impressed him deeply.

He was happy to see that the German community in China has grown very fast over the past years and has already experienced a wide range of cultural activities enriching foreign residents' daily lives.

"The life of foreign residents in China has no doubt gained immensely in quality and variety. This stands out very clearly when I compare the conditions during my own previous posting and visits in Beijing with today's," he said.

It is a great honour to be ambassador to China, he said.

The official estimates that there are around 3,000 German citizens living in Beijing. Not only do many members of German business companies work and live in the city with their families, but there is also an increasing number of students and academics who have settled down in Beijing.

Meanwhile, it is going to be a big challenge for him to be the German Ambassador to China.

"Relations between our two countries have never been better and we have achieved a high level of mutual understanding. But this does not mean that there is no room for further improvement," he said.

Two biggest goals

Stanzel realized that one thing should top his agenda - promoting the co-ordination of policies ever more closely between the two countries.

"We have not yet reached a level of businesslike communication where the leaders of both Germany and China can indeed 'meet and phone' each other as a matter of course," he said.

On people-to-people communications, the ambassador said against the backdrop of globalization, it is more important in the long term the two countries and people ought to expand the knowledge about each others' culture and society.

"This is especially important against the backdrop of globalization," he said.

China is preparing the establishment of a cultural institute in Berlin and Germany intends to enhance the activities of the Goethe Institute in Beijing and other parts of the country.

Economic ties

As a matter of fact the impressive development of the economic relations is less the result of "breathtaking speed" than of the persistent, long-term efforts undertaken by courageous protagonists on both sides.

The bilateral trade volume grew by over 20 per cent last year. Sino-German trade has witnessed a very stable double-digit growth over the past five years.

"I am quite optimistic about next year. And I also see a tendency towards better balancing trade, that means we should be able to increase our exports to China faster than our imports from China," said Stanzel, adding that this not only shows the strong demand for goods made in Germany, but also that our two economies fit together very well. "Consumer goods from China are in high demand in Germany and on the other hand, Germany is very strong in investment goods."

German industry was the biggest European investor in China in 2004.

"In fact if I should summarize the main characteristics of Sino-German economic relations in the following words: 'reliability' and 'long-term partnership,'" he said.

Great potential

A modern economy requires calculable legal rules and modern economic legislation. Within the framework of the rule-of-law dialogue, Germany and China have enjoyed a fruitful exchange of opinions about the question of how China establishes a legal system tailored to new conditions.

"This dialogue has become an essential dimension of Sino-German relations which we would like to expand," Stanzel said.

China and Germany have very intensive co-operation in the field of science and technology.

Steering committees have been established to channel co-operation activities in fields such as information and communication technology, laser and optical technologies, nanotechnology and in the conservation of cultural relics.

Furthermore, the Chinese and German ministries of science and technology recently signed a protocol agreeing on co-operation aiming towards the modernization of the industry in Northeast China.

Chinese and German partners are working on scientific co-operation projects related to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

A joint working group on exploration of outer space is currently being set up. The newly founded Sino-German Joint Research Institutes in Beijing and Berlin will intensify the direct co-operation in the field of information and communication technologies.

As to German-Chinese military co-operation, there are currently 15 different projects. They include mutual visits of high-ranking delegations, consultations on various issues and training and educational projects.

"Further potential for co-operation surely exists especially in the field of training for peace-keeping and disaster relief operations," Stanzel said.

International co-operation

"Germany welcomes the increasingly active role China is playing in regional and world affairs including within the United Nations," the ambassador said.

"We appreciate and support for instance the efforts undertaken by China to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula."

Chancellor Gerhard Schrder and Premier Wen Jiabao agreed during their last meeting in Berlin that the United Nations is the most important multilateral institution to resolve international conflicts and crises.

Both countries support the reform of the United Nations as a necessary step to make it able to face up to new challenges.

Stanzel said that Germany also appreciates that the Chinese Government supports Germany's wish to play a more prominent role in the United Nations.

"Given the interest and active engagement of both countries in UN-led peace-keeping missions we could also envisage stronger co-operation in this field." he said.

"The high-level reform forum will soon submit its report to Secretary-General Kofi Annan. I am sure, Germany and China will closely consult on this matter as we have done in the past."