On 18 July 2005, a hot summer day, Geberit Shanghai had the great honor to welcome the Swiss

Minister for Trade, Federal Councillor Mr. Joseph Deiss, his charming wife Mrs. Elisabeth Deiss, the Swiss Ambassador to Beijing Mr. Dante Martinelli, Mrs. Martinelli, the Swiss Consul General of Shanghai Mr. Hans Roth and a high level delegation of important executives from Swiss companies.

On his visit to China Mr. Deiss had been attending an informal WTO meeting of ministers in Dalian before visiting Beijing where he met his counterpart, the Chinese Minister for commerce Mr. Bo Xi Lai and where he had a number of high level meetings with further representatives of the People's Republic of China.

On his third stop Mr. Deiss arrived in the City of Shanghai in order to get a personal impression of the booming economy and the amazing developments. He took the opportunity to visit a few selected Swiss companies of different nature and sizes. It is a great honor that Geberit Shanghai was chosen as an example of a successful business model. The delegation was received at the Geberit Information Center. After a company introduction by our CEO Asia Pacific, Mr. Felix Aepli, the Demo Tower was explained to Mr. Deiss by Mr. Manfred Koenigslehner. The training facilities of Geberit Shanghai are being visited every year by approximately 130 groups of architects, designers, installation companies and university students. Mr. Deiss was visibly impressed and expressed in his speech his appreciation for Geberit's contribution in developing the China market. He considers Geberit as a great example that China is not primarily a danger for the working place Switzerland but a great opportunity for innovative and active companies. After the presentations the delegation had the opportunity to look into the production facilities of Geberit China and to get a first hand impression of the busy workshop.