Mention German companies to Chinese consumers and they immediately think of a string of world-renowned brands: cars by Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, sportswear by Adidas, specialized machinery and equipment by Siemens and electronic appliances by Bosch. These "Made-in-Germany" products are not only synonymous with advanced technical standards, superior workmanship and unmatchable quality, but are also symbols of the German nation.

How, some people may wonder, can German companies churn out endless examples of these near perfect products? For one thing, they have invariably lain emphasis on the role of their highly skilled workforce, constantly seeking technical and managerial experts and cultivating innovative measures ranging from comprehensive on-the-job training programs to generous benefits packages for senior executives and backbone engineering staff. In the eyes of the German business management, employees are enormous assets as they can bring in both tangible and invisible wealth, as well as great prestige for manufacturers.

The German people are generally seen as a responsible and conscientious society that takes virtually everything to heart, sometimes even to the point of being inflexible and fault finding. This has resulted in their scrupulous and meticulous attitude toward work. Throughout the working process, specifications are strictly followed, due attention is paid to details, from design to the finishing product, and rigorous quality checks are conducted at all levels in order to produce the best possible results.

This set of values seems to be the unique features of the German corporate culture. Conceivably, it is owing to these basic characteristics, along with a vision for long-term development, standardized corporate governance, abundant R & D inputs; and fully mobilized initiatives of individual employees that help turn many German companies into manufacturing marvels where famed brands are created for global consumers.

To some extent, the above-mentioned features are also the reason for the grand fame and advances German companies have made in China. Volkswagen, according to the figures from the National Bureau of Statistics of China, had registered its biggest sales volume last year, with a total of 720,000 units sold in the local market. Siemens, a pioneer that first made inroads in China as early as the late 19th Century, had registered 4.4 billion euros in sales and 5.1 billion euros worth of new orders in fiscal 2006, with over 36,000 workers employed, one of the largest workforces among foreign-invested companies in China. Other success stories concern BASF, the world's leading chemical company that runs 24 cross-sector subsidiaries on the mainland, ThyssenKrupp, a heavy industry giant in collaboration with the Shanghai-based Baoshan Iron & Steels Co. Ltd., Bayer, now one of the major local makers of chemical products, as well as a host of other German ventures launched in the nation.

Germany is by no means a stranger to China and the Chinese people as diplomatic relations were established as long as 35 years ago. But while economic ties are at a premium, deeper cooperation means understanding on all levels, especially in cultural aspects. Only through this process can conflicts between the two nations, such as the recent diplomatic dispute, be avoided and a true partnership be maintained.