The “Berlin Ambassadors China” project is an initiative of the Berlin Business Desk China that started at the end of 2021. Berlin Ambassadors are people from Berlin or representatives of companies from Berlin in China’s most important economic regions and cities. For a two-year period, the Berlin Ambassadors work on a voluntary basis to strengthen the network and Berlin's image in China. Since the initiative began, influential personalities have been designated as Berlin Ambassadors in five core regions:
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Tilman Lesche (North China/Beijing)
Tilman, a native of Berlin, is the founder of an education service provider in Berlin and Beijing and a social media influencer with more than 8 million fans in China. Tilman produces and publishes videos in Chinese about life in China and Germany, as well as commentaries on current issues discussed in China. With his own online presence and his media agency founded at the end of 2021, Tilman supports European brands in marketing their products on Chinese e-commerce and live streaming platforms.
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Damian Maib (East China/ Yangtse-Delta)
Damian is the founder and managing director of the e-commerce enabler GENUINE with over 50 employees and offices in Berlin, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Damian's story with China and Berlin began in 2014. Back then he started his first cross-border e-commerce business with a store on Taobao to offer products from Germany in China. Damian is well connected, especially in the start-up community in Shanghai, and has also achieved nationwide fame in China with his private social media projects. Damian can identify suitable entry points in the e-commerce and start-up sector in China for companies from Berlin.
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Choco Heng Zhang + Alexander Glaser (West China/ Chengdu-Chongqing)
Choco and Alex are architects from Berlin. In 2018, Choco and Alex founded a branch of their agency prespace ARCHITEKTEN in western China's largest city cluster "Chengdu-Chongqing" (also "Cheng-Yu-Region"). The Cheng-Yu region aims to advance western China's industrialization, urbanization and opening-up based on sustainable development models. Choco and Alex are committed to presenting innovative green building and urban planning concepts and technologies from Berlin in China.
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Thomas Vogel (Greater Bay Area)
Thomas was born in Berlin and is the official representative of ALBA BERLIN in Asia. With an overall record of 11 German League titles, the team belongs to the most successful professional sports teams in Germany and is one of the most prestigious franchises in European basketball. ALBA BERLIN is organizing integrated basketball and German language programs for students in China and is looking for further cooperation partners.
- David Axiotis (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hongkong)
David is heading the China business of Berlin's city-owned trade fair organiser Messe Berlin. With offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong he is running trade shows covering major industries while also promoting Berlin as event destination.
All our ambassadors will support us on site in promoting Berlin as an interesting business location and provide important contacts in their respective regions. The "Berlin Ambassadors China" project is an ongoing campaign. If you are economically active in China and have a strong connection to Berlin, please contact the Berlin in China team (info@berlinoffice-china.com). We look forward to many initiatives and joint projects.
