China Connect

Mit Erin Bargeld. In this episode, we explore how investment, ecosystems, and talent development connect Germany, China, and global innovation hubs with investor and ecosystem builder Erin Bargeld. Born in China, raised in the US, and now based in Berlin, Erin shares insights from more than 15 years in the startup world, including early involvement with companies like Delivery Hero. We discuss what makes Berlin attractive for international founders and investors, how the city compares to China's speed and Silicon Valley's scale, and why strong networks, education, and the right regulatory environment are essential for a thriving ecosystem. The conversation also looks ahead to the future of work, highlighting why teams matter more than ideas, how AI is reshaping careers, and what skills the next generation of entrepreneurs will need to succeed.

Mit Dr. FANG Man. In this episode of ChinaConnect – Your Guide for Research and Transfer, we speak with Dr. FANG Man, psychologist and psychotherapist trained in China and Germany, about the evolution and practice of psychology in China. With over 20 years of experience, she shares insights into the field’s development—from early Western and German influences, through disruption during the Cultural Revolution, to today’s efforts to localise psychological theory and practice. The discussion explores how cultural factors such as "face," relationships, and harmony shape the expression of psychological distress, as well as the integration of Western clinical methods with traditional Chinese practices like body-based therapies and TCM. The episode also addresses rising mental health diagnoses among young people in urban China and ongoing debates around medicalisation. Drawing on her work in trauma and disaster response, Dr. Fang compares strengths of emergency psychological support systems in China and Germany.

Mit Dr. FANG Man. How deeply does culture shape the way we think, communicate, and collaborate? In this episode of ChinaConnect – Your Guide for Research and Transfer, we explore cultural perspectives from China and Germany with our guest Dr. FANG Man, Affiliate Scholar at the Research Institute for Sustainability (Helmholtz Centre Potsdam) and founder of the Mindful-Transculture Community. Trained as a psychologist and psychotherapist in both China and Germany, she draws on academic, therapeutic, and intercultural experience to reflect on how cultural frameworks influence everyday interactions, professional contexts, and international cooperation. The conversation sheds light on differences in communication styles, language structures, and social norms—ranging from the role of silence, humility, and independence to the importance of guanxi and informal relationship-building in China. Dr. FANG Man also discusses how philosophical traditions such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism continue to shape society today, and what community-oriented versus individual-oriented cultures can contribute to tackling global challenges like climate change.

With SONG Xin. In this episode of ChinaConnect, we speak with Song Xin, founder and managing director of Sinnvoll Global, Financial Times columnist, and former policy advisor at the European Parliament. Xin shares candid insights from her work helping German and Chinese companies expand internationally, comparing business cultures, innovation mindsets, and market dynamics across Asia, Europe, and the US. We explore Germany’s reputation in China—trusted for quality and stability yet hindered by slow processes, aging infrastructure, and risk-averse business culture—and hear Xin’s firsthand experience of navigating Berlin’s bureaucracy and "perfect-plan-first" mentality. She also reveals what 1,200+ Chinese companies have taught her about global expansion: the biggest destination markets, how cultural mindsets shape product design, and why Europe ranks low despite its appeal. Xin breaks down the real role of geopolitics in market selection, the evolving state of China’s economy, price wars and consolidation in key industries, and new policies boosting consumption and entrepreneurship. She closes with practical advice for young German companies eyeing China—and why Hong Kong is emerging as the most strategic gateway into both China and broader Asian markets. [English episode]