I look forward to constructive engagement with you during the 44th Parliament. As we reach the close of an eventful year, it is perhaps worth reflecting on some key themes, starting with the global economy. At the meeting with the previous Committee early in the year, we noted several developments. Fears of a euro area break-up had abated.
The foundation of the Sino-German Centre of Finance and Economics about two months ago in Peking, a German Chinese scientific research institute, is an obvious demonstration of the further growing cooperation. I am of the opinion that such cooperation is very useful in the restructuring phase of the Chinese economy. And another key milestone in the German Chinese cooperation is approaching.