When we talk about Asia or the emerging Asian economies, we tend to mean China.  China is booming and everybody wants to be part of the boom. At the same time, however, this growth and its   transformation into political influence and military strength can be perceived as a potential threat.  This ambivalent perception is balanced in different ways in different countries. The perceptions of China in public opinion in Germany and Japan also differ considerably.  This too has an influence on foreign policy. At a conference in Tôkyô, Prof. FUJIWARA Kiichi  from Tokyo University pointed out with regard to Japan and China that heated public opinion can limit the possibilities of government policy.

In this symposium, the background to the different perceptions of China in Japan and Germany as well as, for example, the USA will be analysed and it will be discussed whether China should have a special role.  Is China evaluated by the media, political sectors, industry and scientific communities of these countries according to different standards?

In particular, the political consequences of different perceptions will be discussed with regard to cooperation with China and to a regional trade and security policy.  This event is a follow-up to the symposium "China's Role in Asia- Research Approaches in Germany and Japan", which was held on July 8, 2012, in Tôkyô.

June 4, 6pm-8.30pm: Public panel discussion at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Languages: German and English, with simultaneous interpreting)
June 5: Expert workshop (language: English)