1. Overview of Austria
"Country of European Heart"
"East and West" Crossroads "
Capital Vienna-"Music Capital of the World"
(1) Geography and human environment
The Republic of Austria (English: The Republic of Austria, German: Republik Österreich), referred to as Austria, is a landlocked country located in southern Central Europe, with a land area of 83878 square kilometers. It borders Slovakia and Hungary in the east, Slovenia and Italy in the south, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein in the west, and Germany and the Czech Republic in the north. Due to historical reasons and the transportation between Europe, the North, South, and North, Austria is known as "the heart of Europe" and the "crossroads" between East and West. It is also one of the cultural centers of Europe.
Topography
Austria is a famous mountain country, and the west and south are mountainous regions (Alps), and the mountain area accounts for 70% of the country. The north and northeast are plains and hills, with forest coverage accounting for about 47%.The landforms of Austria can be divided into six major parts, each with its own unique landscape. The first part is the Western Alps region, which is a crystalline rock formation region; the second part is the Eastern Alps region, which is also a crystalline rock formation region; the third part is the southern Alps accumulation rock formation region; the fourth part is the northern accumulation rock formation Alps region, This area is mainly composed of Mesozoic limestone; the fifth part is the southern part of the Danube, which is between the Salzburg Alps and the Austrian Alps and the Danube; the sixth part is the northern part of the Danube, belonging to the Bohemian Highlands South.
The larger lakes in Austria are Lake Constance and Lake Neusiedl. Lake Constance is located at the junction of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, and is jointly managed by the three countries. Shipping communicates with the three countries along the coast. The Lake District has beautiful scenery and clear lake water, and is a health resort. Lake Neusiedl is located in eastern Austria, with a lake area of 323 square kilometers, an average water depth of 1.5 meters, dense reeds, and rare birds. The Hunan Department is the border between Austria and Hungary. Lake Hunterbrühl in the west of Vienna is the largest underground lake in Europe, with an area of 6,200 square meters. The lake is 100 meters above the ground. To enter and exit the underground lake, a tunnel with a length of about 450 meters is required to pass through, so it is known as "Underground Fairy Kingdom".
Climate characteristics
Austria is a temperate broad-leaved forest with a transition from oceanic to continental. The climates in the east and the west are not the same. The west is affected by the Atlantic Ocean and has the characteristics of a marine climate. The temperature difference is small and rainy; The temperature difference is relatively large and the rainfall is much less. The average temperature in January was -2 ℃, and it was 19 ℃ in July. In summer, the temperature is mostly 14 ℃ -19 ℃, and the maximum temperature is only 32 ℃. Winter is relatively cold, and the temperature generally reaches below zero degrees Celsius.Administrative divisions
Austria is divided into 9 states, namely: Burgenland, Carinthia, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Vienna. There are cities, districts, and towns (townships) below the prefecture.The capital Vienna (Vienna) is the largest city in Austria, one of the nine federal states of the country, and the main cultural center of Europe, known as the "Music Capital of the World". Vienna is located in the Vienna Basin in northeastern Austria. The blue Danube River flows quietly from the urban area. The scenery is elegant and it is known as the "Goddess of the Danube River".
Vienna is the most populous city in Austria. In the 2017 census, Vienna had a population of more than 1.87 million. It was also the second most German-speaking city in the world after Berlin. Vienna is one of the four official residences of the United Nations and the headquarters of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the International Atomic Energy Agency and the seat of other international agencies.
Vienna is the hometown of the famous waltz, and the birthplace of many famous classical music works in Europe. It has always enjoyed the reputation of the world-famous music city.
The streets of Vienna ’s Old Town are narrow, with Baroque, Gothic, and Romanesque buildings on both sides. The spires of the medieval St. Stefan ’s Cathedral and the Twin Towers Church rise into the blue sky, which is particularly eye-catching in areas with few high-rise buildings. The city has been rated as one of the most livable cities in the world by UN-Habitat for many years.
Population and Nationality
Austria has a population of 8.82 million (January 1, 2018), including 1.4 million foreigners, accounting for 15.8% of the total population.Among the population of the country, the Austrian nationality accounts for 88.8%, the non-Austrian nationality accounts for 11.2%, of which the Germans account for 1.5%, the Bosnian blacks 1.1%, the Turks 1%, and the Serbs 1%.
Chinese immigration to Austria began in the 1970s. In 2017, about 30,000 Chinese lived in Austria, mainly in large cities such as Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg. About 90% of them are engaged in the catering industry. The first Chinese restaurant in Austria was born in 1940, and has grown to about 1,200 by 2017.
The population of Catholics in Austria is about 78% and Christianity is 5%. In addition, there are 340,000 Muslims, 180,000 Orthodox believers, 20,000 Jehovah's Witnesses, and 8,100 Jews. 12% of the population is not religious.
[Language and Culture] The official language of Austria is German, and the spoken language uses a variety of dialects from Upper German (Lower Alemani dialect, Central Bavarian dialect, Lower Bavarian dialect), which is quite different from written language. There are also some differences between the German standard in Austria and the German standard used in Germany.
Austrian history has produced many world-famous musicians: Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, John Strauss, and Beethoven, who was born in Germany but has long lived in Austria. Over two centuries, these music masters have left Austria with an extremely rich cultural heritage and formed a unique national cultural tradition. The Salzburg Music Festival in Austria is one of the oldest, highest level, and largest classical music festivals in the world. The annual Vienna New Year's Concert is the most listened concert in the world. The Royal Opera House (now known as the Vienna State Opera), built-in 1869, is one of the most famous opera houses in the world, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is a world-renowned symphony orchestra.
Customs
The Austrians are affable, easily accessible, and remain serious in social situations, but there is no lack of easy going. The name of the Austrian is after the first surname, usually the surname is called, and the title of the knight is placed before the name. When we meet, we usually give a handshake. In terms of dressing, the Austrians usually dress neatly and casually, but are more particular about formal occasions. Dress elegantly when watching operas and concerts. Men wear formal dresses or suits, and women wear formal dresses or ethnic costumes. Austrian residents take pasta as the staple food, and bread and sausages are generally popular foods. Austria ’s wine industry enjoys a high reputation. Nearly one-fifth of the country ’s agricultural population is engaged in the wine industry. Entertaining guests is usually done at home. If you feast in a restaurant, the dishes are very rich, and you are very particular about the dining environment and atmosphere.(2) Transportation situation
Highway
The total length of all kinds of highways in the country is about 125,000 kilometers, of which 2144 kilometers are highways and high-grade highways. In 2016, the road freight volume was 376 million tons. Austria ’s highway traffic extends in all directions, expressways and federal highways are free roads, but expressways and certain multi-lane roads are toll roads.Railway
The total length of the national railway is 5702 kilometers. In 2016, passenger traffic was 282 million, an increase of 1.5% year-on-year, and freight volume was about 99.8 million tons. The special geographical position makes Austria a rail transit hub that runs through the east, west, south, and north of Europe. The Vienna Central Railway Station was officially completed and used at the end of 2014. Passengers can achieve direct traffic from east to west and north-south directions without much expense, and rail transportation is also faster. The new Eurasian road and bridge line, which was opened in early 2009, can take more than two weeks to travel from northern China to central Austria, providing new facilities for trade. Vienna, Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck, and other hub railway stations have multiple trains to all major cities in the country and neighboring countries.Air Freight
Austria ’s air passenger and cargo transportation is relatively strong in central Europe. It is one of the most important airports in Central and Eastern Europe. It can be reached in 3 hours by flight from any major European city. It is also a direct route from Central and Eastern Europe. One of the two international airports on the China route. Austrian Airlines was one of the best airlines in the world. Due to poor management, it was acquired by Lufthansa in 2009.In 2017, the total civil air passenger traffic in Austria was 29 million (the sum of the number of inbound, outbound, and transit passengers), an increase of 4.5% year-on-year; air cargo, and postal transportation volume was 281,600 tons, an increase of 2.85% year-on-year. There are direct flights from Vienna to major cities in neighboring countries. Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz and Salzburg have international airports, and there are international flights to Austria from all over the world. Austrian Airlines and Air China have opened direct flights from Vienna to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. China Hainan Airlines opened a direct flight from Shenzhen to Vienna in the fall of 2018.
Water transport
The Danube River, which originated in Germany, flows 350 kilometers through Austria. Austria has, therefore, become one of the main operators of this international river, with passengers and freight accounting for a certain proportion. Especially in the summer, the Danube Tour has become one of the main tourism projects in Austria. In 2016, the Danube freight volume was 9.1 million tons.(3) Political environment
Politics
Austria implements a political system in which the three powers are separated. The legislative, executive, and judicial powers are independent of each other and check and balance each other. The government implements the system of prime minister responsibility under federalism and parliamentary democracy.Constitution
The current constitution came into force on November 10, 1920. Two bylaws were adopted in 1925 and 1929. The Constitution was abolished in 1934. After the reconstruction of Austria in 1945, it was announced that the 1920 Constitution and two by-laws would remain in effect. The Constitution stipulates that Austria is a federal republic and the president is the head of state. It is elected by universal suffrage and its term of office is 6 years. The prime minister is the head of government for a five-year term.Government
The Federal Government is the highest national administrative agency in Austria, consisting of the Federal Chancellor, Deputy Prime Ministers and ministers. The term of office of each federal government is the same as that of the National Assembly. The general reason is the appointment of the President. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister are appointed by the President on the nomination of the Prime Minister.Parliament
The legislative power is in Parliament. Austria has a bicameral system consisting of the National Assembly and the Bundestag. The National Assembly formulates laws to preside over the inauguration ceremony of the new government and can vote to dismiss the federal government and its members through a vote of no confidence. The Federal Parliament represents the interests of the states and has the right to dismiss the legal proposals passed by the National Assembly, but if the National Assembly insists on the original case, the Federal Parliament shall not raise any objections. The National Assembly is composed of 183 members and is elected on a proportional basis for a term of 5 years. The National Assembly is the main body of the Austrian Parliament.Military
In September 1955, Austria promulgated the "National Defense Law" to create the Federal Army. The National Security Council is the highest security decision-making body. It is the general advisory body of the Federal Government on foreign affairs, security, and national defense affairs. The official members of the voting right are composed of the Federal Prime Minister as Chairman and the Chief of Staff of the Federal Army. The Ministry of National Defence is the highest military command institution. The Federal Government authorizes the Minister of Defense to exercise command over the Federal Army. The Chief of the General Staff is the highest military adviser of the Minister of National Defense, and on behalf of the Minister of National Defence, he commands the operations of the Austrian army inside and outside the country. The Joint Operations Command is a strategic-level command organization that commands ground and air forces in a unified manner.Party
Austria has a multi-party system with over 700 registered political parties. The parties that hold seats in Parliament are the Austrian People ’s Party (OEVP), the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPOE), the Austrian Liberal Party (FPOE), Austrian New Party (NEOS), Pilz List Party (PILZ).(4) Diplomatic situation
Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and joined the Eurozone in 1999. The basis of Austria ’s foreign policy is based on peace and neutrality, relying on the EU, supporting the EU ’s common foreign and defense policies, actively promoting the EU ’s deepening and expansion, and coordinating with the EU on major international issues.
Austria supports trans-Atlantic economic cooperation, attaches importance to the role of the United Nations, and actively participates in international cooperation to prevent nuclear proliferation and weapons of mass destruction and counter-terrorism. Strengthen relations with neighboring countries, especially Central and Eastern European countries, maintain and deepen relations with major powers, and seek to play a unique role in international affairs.
In 2008, Austria was active in diplomacy and achieved important results. At the 63rd UN General Assembly, Austria was successfully elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2009 to 2010, fulfilling Austria's desire to assume more responsibilities in international affairs.
Austria also promotes the European Union to accelerate the admission of Western Balkan countries to the EU and to further close traditional ties with countries in the region. In 2014, Austria played an active coordinating role on major international issues such as the Ukraine crisis and Iran ’s nuclear negotiations. At the same time, Austria has also increased its focus on countries in Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia. In 2015, Austria became one of the main transit countries and asylum-seekers in the refugee crisis, under increased pressure, and the policy shifted from open to restricting the number of refugees and blocking the border. The refugee crisis caused the two largest ruling parties in Austria to lose in the presidential election. In 2016, Austrian Prime Minister Fayman resigned because he failed to properly handle the refugee problem and lost the support of left-wing political parties, highlighting Austria's policy changes in the refugee problem.
