DW was founded 60 years ago. Since then DW has played an important political and cultural role world wide. The Chinese department, in particular, has been of great service, supporting independent press and freedom of expression in China.  I hope that in future the Chinese department can play an even bigger part in this.  

Ai Weiwei is a contemporary Chinese artist, whose work comments on social, political and cultural life in China. He is a political activist, who has been highly critical of the Chinese government's record on democracy and human rights. In his work, he has drawn attention to corruption and government cover-ups. In 2011 he was arrested and held for two months on allegations of tax evasion.