DIHT and the German Federal Ministry of Economics formally established the "China German Chamber of Commerce" (AHK) today. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Minister of Economics Dr. Werner Mueller, China's Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Shi Guangsheng, DIHT Chief Executive Dr. Franz Schoser, and about 300 German and 100 Chinese business people attended the inauguration ceremony in Beijing. President of the new chamber is Ernst Behrens, CEO of Siemens China, Ltd. According to Chinese regulations, only foreign enterprises and business people are permitted to become members of the new chamber. Chancellor Schroeder expressed his hope for a regulation adjustment, so that Chinese enterprises and Chinese-foreign joint ventures will also be allowed to join in the near future.