From March 13 to 16, local time, Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), led a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs to visit Austria. The visit aimed to strengthen communication and exchanges with local governments, business associations, chambers of commerce, enterprises, and relevant United Nations agencies, as well as to deepen practical cooperation.

During the visit, Ren Hongbin met with Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL); Yasunaga Yuko, Managing Director of the Directorate of Corporate Services and Operations at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Austrian Federal Minister of Labour and Economy; and Philipp Gady and Christoph Matznetter, Vice Presidents of the Austrian Economic Chambers (WKO). He also visited local Chinese-funded enterprises. The CCPIT and the WKO jointly hosted the China-Austria Economic and Trade Forum and the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) Roadshow. During the event, the China International Exhibition Center Group signed cooperation agreements with relevant Austrian institutions and enterprises.

The Chinese side elaborated on the guiding principles of China’s “Two Sessions” (the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference). They emphasized their willingness to work with all parties to advance economic and trade cooperation with an open mindset and practical measures, uphold true multilateralism, jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system, and keep global industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded. The Chinese side also expressed hope that Austrian enterprises would seize the opportunities presented by Chinese modernization and continue to deepen their presence in the Chinese market. Austrian businesses were encouraged to actively engage in the 3rd CISCE.

The Austrian business community widely acknowledged that China and Austria are each other’s trustworthy partners. They expressed their readiness to strengthen cooperation with Chinese businesses, observe the principle of fair competition, and jointly oppose trade protectionism. They also hoped to see more Chinese enterprises invest and operate in Austria, taking the China-Austria friendly strategic partnership to new heights.

Enterprises from both sides carried out in-depth discussions on industries such as automotive, agriculture, and food processing, reaching multiple cooperation intentions.

Chinese Ambassador to Austria Qi Mei attended related events.