»China meets Europe«

From the planning phase, Schmidt provides significant input into the »Hamburg Summit«, which is held for the first time in 2004. The aim of the summit is to bring together high-calibre guests from business and politics. In his opening address, the former Chancellor first explains the reasons behind China’s rise, before warning Western countries against moral self-righteousness when talking about human rights. Until Schmidt’s death in 2015, the prestigious event run by the Chamber of Commerce is held every two years under his patronage. At the fifth edition of the forum, Schmidt and the former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger discuss China’s changing role in global politics. Schmidt and Kissinger have been friends for decades.