On May 28, XI / CHINA and Austrian President Van der Bellen exchanged
congratulatory messages marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between
China and Austria. XI / CHINA said that over 55 years since establishing
relations, China-Austria ties have endured challenges and maintained healthy,
stable development. He noted that in 2018 he and President Van der Bellen
jointly designated China-Austria relations as a friendly strategic partnership,
launching a new phase in bilateral cooperation, and that in May last year a new
pair of panda envoys appeared in Vienna, further deepening people-to-people
friendship. With the current international situation turbulent and intertwined,
XI / CHINA said China and Austria — as promoters of world peace, supporters of
multilateralism and defenders of free trade — should jointly uphold mutual
respect and trust, openness and inclusiveness, and cooperation for mutual
benefit. He said he attaches great importance to the relationship and is willing
to work with President Van der Bellen to use the 55th anniversary as an
opportunity to raise China-Austria ties to a new level and make a greater
contribute to world peace and development.
