The dinner highlights the fact that relations between Germany's political and business elites have long been cozy, reflecting a tradition of trying to govern the country by building a consensus with industry, banking, unions and other interest groups. <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125133086245062187.html">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125133086245062187.html</a> http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/05/news/05iht-berlin.t.html