Michael Kahn-Ackermann（Stiftung Mercator China Special Representative）

Anke Hassel

Chief Professor of Public Policy at the Hertie School of Governance, member of the faculty of the Berlin Graduate School for Transnational Studies.

From 2009 until 2012 Prof. Hassel was Senior Visiting Fellow at the European Institute of the London School of Economics. She was also a visiting scholar at the Social Science Research Center Berlin and King's College, Cambridge, UK. In 2003/2004, Prof Hassel worked for the Planning Department of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour (BMWA) and then joined the Jacobs University Bremen as Professor of Sociology. She received Fellowships from the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung, Volkswagen Stiftung, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and Hans Böckler Stiftung. In 2012/13, Prof. Hassel served as an Expert Member of the Enquete Commission of the German Federal Parliament on “Growth, Wealth, Quality of Life”.

Prof. Hassel research interest focuses on the interplay between modern business and social systems including the institutional foundations of business systems, labour rights and corporate social responsibility. She has written extensively about the transformation of the German political economy in a comparative perspective and the role of labour market institutions in the Eurozone.

Zhao Tingyang

Professor of philosophy at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Great-wall scholar.

Working on ontology and political philosophy, known for his universalist theory of all-under-heaven system. And he is the author of On possible lives, All-under-heaven system, A study of the bad world, and A foundation for first philosophy. His newest book is Du Ciel ala Terre, the coauthor is Regis Debray, published in Paris 2014.

The Mercator Salon is a series of events run by Stiftung Mercator in Beijing. The salons provide a platform for Chinese and Europeans to exchange ideas and opinions on topical issues relevant to culture and society. The first three rounds of Mercator Salons took place from October 2012 to November 2013 on the topics of “Cultural Metropolis – Metropolitan Culture”, “Money and Happiness” and “Intellectuals and the Role of Science in China and Europe”.

In 2014 Stiftung Mercator will cooperate with Lens magazine in organizing a new round of Mercator Salons on the concepts of “Future” and “Home”, which are held in summer and autumn 2014 respectively.

For more information about Mercator Salon, please visit:

www.mercatorsalon.de/en

Stiftung Mercator

Stiftung Mercator is one of the largest private foundations in Germany. It pursues clearly defined objectives in its thematic clusters of integration, climate change and arts education and achieves these objectives with a combination of socio-political advocacy and practical work. Stiftung Mercator implements its own projects and supports external projects in its centres for science and humanities, education and international affairs.

Currently, Stiftung Mercator is funding several projects in China: school and youth exchanges, multiplier encounters and fellowship programmes for young managers in the areas of civil society, politics, academia and business. We are working on creating a better and more nuanced understanding of Chinese and European reality in the respective other region through long-term partnership and cooperation.

Please see www.stiftung-mercator.de/en for more information.

Lens Magazine

Launched in 2005, Lens is a monthly photojournalistic magazine that explores stories of human nature and reflects social realities. The magazine’s contents focuses on individuals, society, arts, and other various cultural events. Dedicated to incorporating stunning photography with groundbreaking reporting and an edgy perspective, Lens provides a comprehensive reading experience and is one of the most valuable magazines in China.