China's NPC Chairman Meets German Insurance Executive ����Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, welcomed Juergen Zech, chairman of the Gerling Group of Insurance Companies of Germany, and his party in Beijing on the afternoon of January 13. ����They are here to discuss cooperation with various Chinese departments and talk about Germany's finance and insurance experience. ����Li expressed his appreciation for the help Gerling has given China's University of International Business and Economics in opening an insurance institute to train personnel. He said that Sino-German relations have been developing smoothly and that he hopes that the new government and parliament of Germany can work to further develop bilateral ties. He also discussed China's insurance market and its policies. ����Zech said Gerling will contribute to China's finance and insurance development. ����Gerling is one of Germany's two largest insurance companies. It was set up in 1904 and has over 60 branches worldwide. In 1995 its representative office in China was approved. ����Zech and his group are here as guests of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. ���� HomeNews 1999-01-14 Page4 Full Story in Chinese