At the start of his state visit to China, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited on Oct. 27 the Volkswagen China Technology Company (VCTC) center in the city of Hefei, which is the largest such center outside of Germany employing 3,000 engineers and technical specialists. During his tour of the Hefei site, Steinmeier who also test-drove one of the newly-developed e-cars, said that he was impressed and believes that technological achievements made in Hefei could also be exported to Germany.

In a post titled “History, Urban Development and E-Mobility,” accompanied by 19 Instagram Stories documenting the first day of his visit, Steinmeier said he began his China trip in Hefei, visiting the former residence of late Qing Dynasty statesman Li, who met Otto von Bismarck in Germany in 1896. He ended the day at Volkswagen Group China Technology Company (VCTC), the automaker’s largest R&D center outside Germany, which focuses on electric mobility.