With the opening of an office in China in early 2017 (China Branch Office), the Max Weber Foundation (MWS) takes account of the scientific, cultural and political significance of the country, especially as a research region. The office in China is based on a collaboration of the MWS with the École française d‘Extrême-Orient (EFEO) and the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Together EFEO and MWS form the European Centre for Chinese Studies in Beijing. They help to build contacts and collaborations within Chinese, French and German humanities and social sciences, conduct basic research and organize conferences and lectures. The publication of a joint research book series in Chinese is in preparation.