HANOVER (dpa-AFX) - Lower Saxony's Minister Olaf Lies is departing this evening for a multi-day official visit to China. The SPD politician intends to focus primarily on Volkswagen's Chinese operations and innovative transport concepts. According to a government spokesperson, the agenda includes autonomous driving and AI-supported software applications. Lies serves as a member of the VW Supervisory Board; Volkswagen operates more than 30 production facilities in China.
Energy is also a key item on Lies' itinerary: a delegation from Lower Saxony's Chinese partner province, Anhui, recently provided an impressive account of their progress in nuclear fusion research, the spokesperson noted. Furthermore, a meeting with the shipping company Cosco is scheduled to discuss port logistics.
The first official appointments of the China trip are slated for Sunday, with the visit concluding on Friday. Additional international travel is currently being prepared: from June 2 to 5, Lies will visit Caen in Normandy, France, another of Lower Saxony's partner regions. The agenda there includes the presentation of the Prix Liberté, a youth prize honoring individuals committed to the struggle for freedom. Additionally, the head of government plans to travel to India toward the end of the year./cwe/DP/zb
