On May 26, the Beijing China-Germany Industrial Cooperation Development Forum – 2025 China-Germany (EU) Hidden Champions Forum opened at the China-Germany International Conference and Exhibition Center in Shunyi, Beijing.
China-Germany (China-Europe) Hidden Champions Forum
The forum is co-hosted by the People’s Government of Shunyi District, Beijing, and the European Senate of Economy. It is jointly initiated by the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, the ADWM Academy of German World Market Leaders, and the DEZ German European Center for SME Cooperation in China, under the theme “Collaborative Innovation · Integrated Development.” Over 600 participants—including government officials, academics, and industry leaders from China and abroad—gathered at the event.
Among them, nearly 200 high-level politicians, executives of hidden champion enterprises, and representatives of industry organizations traveled to Beijing from overseas, almost doubling the number of international guests compared to the inaugural forum. More than 400 participants from China’s specialized and sophisticated enterprises, innovative SMEs, research institutions, and industrial investment funds actively took part. Over 50 key Chinese and German (China-Europe) enterprises showcased new products, technologies, and application scenarios onsite. This edition of the forum has established an open cooperation platform with broad participation from diverse stakeholders in China and Germany (China-Europe). Enterprises, institutions, industrial parks, and governments engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including technological innovation, industrial development, talent mobility, and information exchange—jointly composing a new chapter of China-Germany (China-Europe) mutually beneficial cooperation.
Hidden champion enterprises are globally leading companies in highly specialized market niches. Though they may not be widely known to the public, they play crucial roles in the industrial value chain.
On May 27, the special session “Hidden Strength, Sophisticated Innovation: China’s ‘Little Giants’ in Dialogue with Global Hidden Champions” was successfully held. As a flagship event under the Beijing China-Germany Industrial Cooperation Development Forum – 2025 China-Germany (China-Europe) Hidden Champions Forum, it gathered German hidden champion enterprises from over 20 specialized sectors such as biopharmaceuticals, as well as Chinese specialized and sophisticated enterprises across more than 30 industries including intelligent equipment and smart connected new energy vehicles. The event facilitated mutual learning and the exchange of development experience. As the “hidden strength” of China-Germany (China-Europe) enterprises meets “sophisticated innovation,” the transformation journey from “small and excellent” to “strong and refined” is being revealed.
Walter Döring, Executive Chairman of the European Senate of Economy and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the German Global Market Leaders Summit (World Hidden Champions), personally hosted the sub-forum.
This event was co-hosted by the DEZ German European Center for SME Cooperation in China and the Shunyi District Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, and organized by Dez Commercial Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Beijing DEZ International Culture Development Co., Ltd. on the successful experiences of the German Global Market Leaders Summit and upholding the summit's spirit, the event was themed “Learn from the Best!” and aimed to build a dialogue and exchange platform between Chinese and German (China-Europe) hidden champions and specialized and sophisticated enterprises. Walter Döring, in his dual role as Executive Chairman of the European Senate of Economy and Chairman of the Summit Committee, personally presided over the session.
Cui Xiaohao, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shunyi District Committee and District Mayor, Delivers a Speech
At the event, Cui Xiaohao, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shunyi District Committee and District Mayor; Johannes Hahn, former EU Commissioner for Budget and Administration; Shi Mingde, President of the Chinese-German Friendship Association and former Chinese Ambassador to Germany; Adrian Digolean, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Moldova; Yang Chonghui, Director of the 12th CPPCC Committee for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Overseas Chinese Affairs and former Vice Chairman of the China Economic and Social Council; Feng Bile, former CEO and Supervisory Board Chairman of Siemens and former Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA); Edin Durakovic, Minister of Economy of Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Yang Ming, Vice President of the European Senate of Economy and Executive Chairman of DEZ German European Center for SME Cooperation in China, attended the forum and delivered speeches.
Guests Listening to Speeches
Roundtable Dialogue: Hidden Champions and Specialized and Sophisticated Enterprises in Dialogue
Fourteen representatives from Chinese and German (China-Europe) companies and experts shared their insights and experiences in enterprise management, technological innovation, and market expansion, jointly exploring the integration of German craftsmanship with Chinese digital innovation. Participants included Germany’s Ziehl-Abegg Group, renowned in the field of fan and motor manufacturing, and Mainline Technology, a leading Chinese company in L4-level AI truck development and application. German and European hidden champion enterprises such as Alpha-Test, Stealth Startup, Senior Connect, Gessmann, and GEOSAFE engaged in in-depth discussions with representatives from China’s specialized and sophisticated enterprises in niche sectors, including AccuMedical and Wanji Technology in Shunyi District. Topics included “mutual learning,” “technological breakthroughs,” “ecosystem co-construction,” and “global cooperation.”
Yu Shuli, Director of Public Affairs at AccuMedical, stated: “As a national-level ‘Little Giant’ enterprise specializing in neurointervention, AccuMedical hopes to establish deep cooperation with German hidden champion companies in key areas of the industrial chain such as advanced metal materials and precision manufacturing equipment. At the same time, AccuMedical is actively pursuing EU certification and looks forward to using Germany as a springboard to expand into the European market, so that Chinese innovations can truly serve patients around the world.”
The success of German and European hidden champions in niche market focus, continuous innovation, and global expansion provides valuable reference for the internationalization of China’s specialized and sophisticated enterprises. In turn, China’s specialized and sophisticated enterprises showcased their efforts in digital innovation and industrial upgrading, highlighting the innovation vitality and vast opportunities of the Chinese market. This event helped China’s specialized and sophisticated enterprises broaden their international perspectives while painting a promising picture for German and European investment in China.
Signing of the “Memorandum of Cooperation on Promoting Hidden Champions and Specialized and Sophisticated SMEs between China and Germany (China-Europe)”
Following the discussions, the DEZ German-European Center and the European Senate of Economy, along with representatives from the Ministry of Energy of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Agriculture of Moldova, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bosnia and Herzegovina (IHK), and other relevant ministries and institutions, jointly signed the “Memorandum of Cooperation on Promoting Hidden Champions and Specialized and Sophisticated SMEs between China and Germany (China-Europe)”. The memorandum aims to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism in areas such as economic and trade collaboration, technology exchange, and talent development, fostering complementary strengths and coordinated development.
Looking ahead, Shunyi District will leverage the development of the Beijing China-German Economic and Technological Cooperation Demonstration Zone to attract more German and European hidden champion enterprises to cluster and grow. The district aims to become a key hub for the practical implementation of the China-German Economic and Technological Cooperation Forum mechanism, a vital platform for two-way economic and technological collaboration between China and Germany (China-Europe), and a major gathering place for hidden champions and innovative enterprises from both sides. This initiative will promote deeper integration of enterprises into the regional industrial chain, supporting industrial upgrading and fostering high-quality economic development.