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]

Mit Dr. Isabelle Harbrecht.
In dieser besonderen ChinaConnect-Folge steht ausnahmsweise Co-Host Dr. Isabelle Harbrecht im Mittelpunkt – im Interview mit Oliver Hasse. Gemeinsam diskutieren sie folgende Fragen:
Was waren die bemerkenswertesten Erkenntnisse aus den ChinaConnect-Folgen?
Welche Diskrepanzen bestehen zwischen dem Chinabild in Deutschland und der Realität vor Ort?
Welches Deutschlandbild existiert in China?
Wie kann man trotz schwieriger Rahmenbedingungen kooperieren?
Plus: Praktische Tipps für die nächste Chinareise (von WeChat bis eSIM).
Eine persönliche Folge, die tiefere Einblicke gibt – in unsere Arbeit, unsere Erfahrungen und unsere Motivation hinter ChinaConnect.