The Chinese authorities recently accredited Zhang Yan as head of the Mercator Foundation’s representative office in Beijing. She can now officially take up her duties. As a graduate in German studies and an expert on European culture and economics, Zhang Yan has already worked as a project manager in the Beijing office since 2012 – the only representative office of a German foundation in China that is not affiliated with any political party.
The most important task of Zhang Yan and her colleague Michael Kahn-Ackermann is to maintain the channels of communication with Chinese civil society. Together with their colleagues from Germany, the team organizes different projects such as the European-Chinese Foundation Exchange / Philanthropic leadership Platform. Zhang succeeds Matthias Stepan, who has been working as a research assistant at the University of Bochum since the beginning of this year.
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ABOUT Stiftung Mercator
Stiftung Mercator is a private and independent foundation that works on the basis of scientific expertise and practical project experience. Through its work, it strives for a society characterized by openness to the world, solidarity, and equal opportunities. To achieve these objectives, it supports and develops projects that improve participation and cohesion in an increasingly diverse society. Stiftung Mercator wants to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Europe, address the impact of digitization on democracy and society, and drive forward climate change mitigation. Stiftung Mercator pursues activities in Germany, Europe and worldwide. It has a particular affinity with the Ruhr area, the home of its founding family and of the foundation’s headquarters.