In the 21st century, China has become one of the key focal points of German and European politics, business and academia. Hardly any foreign policy, economic or technological issue of significance can be addressed today without taking the People’s Republic of China into account. As China’s importance grows, so too does the need for people with sound, up-to-date and independent knowledge of the country – what is commonly referred to as ‘China expertise’.
The title ‘Salt Road meets Silk Road’ says it all. It brings together two images: the historic Silk Road as a symbol of millennia-old flows of trade, culture and knowledge between East and West – and the ‘Salt Road’ as a metaphor for the lifelines of modern economies, for raw materials, infrastructure and the material foundations of exchange. Where these two paths converge, an interweaving of history and the present, of culture and economics, emerges – an interweaving that makes understanding China both challenging and deeply rewarding.
