4. Relations between Austria and China
. By the end of the 1980s, China-Austria relations had developed steadily. In April 1974, Austrian Foreign Minister Kirchschlag visited China
In the 1990s, the relations between the two countries showed good momentum of development, with frequent exchanges of visits and rapid development of exchanges and cooperation in various fields. State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Qian Qichen (October 1991), Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Qiao Shi (January 1994), Premier of the State Council Li Peng (June 1994), Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC Li Ruihuan (September 1996) Ding Guangen (May 1998), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Secretariat, successively visited Austria.
In March 1999, President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to Austria, which was the first visit by a Chinese head of state to Austria. Austrian National Assembly Speaker Fischer (January 1992 and March 1997), Prime Minister Vranitzky (April 1993 and October 1996), President Klestil (September 1995), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Xu Xer (March 1998) visited China one after another.
In the 21st century, China-Austria relations have developed in an all-round way. In May 2001, the two countries solemnly celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria, and Austrian President Klestil visited China for the second time. Alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat, Minister of the Central Organization Department Zeng Qinghong (July 2002), Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (July 2002), Premier Zhu Rongji (September 2002), Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat , Minister of the Organization Department He Guoqiang (July 2003), Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wang Zhaoguo (July 2004), Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin (August 2004), Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (February 2006), State Councilor Hua Jian Min (January 2007), Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC Xu Kuangdi (July 2007), Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People ’s Congress Wu Bangguo (May 2009), Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (July 2010), Deputy Member of the Standing Committee of the National People ’s Congress Changwu Yunqimuge (January 2011) visited Austria successively. Austrian Federal Parliament Speaker Billinger (August 2002), Federal Parliament Deputy Speaker Ms. Hasselbach (April 2003), Foreign Minister Ferrero-Waldner (November 2003), Federal Parliament Speaker Argel (November 2003), Minister of Social Security Haupt (November 2003), Second Speaker of the National Assembly Primer (July 2004), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology Gorbach ( November 2004), Prime Minister Husserl (April 2005), Speaker of the National Assembly Kohl (October 2005), Deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament Hazelbach (April 2007), Federal Assembly Speaker Elli Ci (August 2007), Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment, and Water Prüller (November 2007) and Federal Parliament Speaker Leisenberg (April 2009) visited China one after another.
In 2007, the Austrian Parliament Austrian-Chinese parliamentary group and the National People's Congress Sino-Austrian parliamentary friendship group were established one after another.
In October 2008, Austrian Prime Minister Gusenbauer came to China to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Summit. In January 2010, President Fischer paid a state visit to China. In May of the same year, Austrian Prime Minister Fayman came to China to attend the Austrian Pavilion Day at the Shanghai World Expo. In February 2011, Austrian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Paller and Foreign Minister Spindlerg visited China together. In May, Austrian Prime Minister Fayman visited China. In October, President Hu Jintao was invited to pay a state visit to Austria. He met with Austrian President Fischer and met with Prime Minister Fayman and Speaker of the National Assembly Primer respectively. President Hu Jintao and his wife Liu Yongqing were also accompanied by President Fischer and his wife State of Salzburg. In April and May 2012, Minister of Civil Affairs Li Liguo and Hainan Governor Jiang Dingzhi visited Austria successively. In March and April, the Governor of Salzburg, Austria, Burgstall, and Austrian Attorney General Karl visited China one after another.
In September 2014, former State Councilor Comrade Tang Jiaxuan visited Austria, met with Austrian President Fischer, and held discussions with former Prime Minister Husserl and other think tanks. In October, Austrian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science, Research and Economics Mitreina, Foreign Minister Kurtz, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Resources Ruprecht and Federal Chamber of Commerce Chairman Wright visited China at the same time and met with Vice Premier Wang Yang of the State Council.
In March 2015, Austrian President Fischer paid a state visit to China and attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2015. President Xi Jinping held talks with President Fischer. Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council and Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, met with President Fischer respectively. During the visit, the two heads of state jointly attended the signing ceremony and witnessed the signing of three bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of economy, trade, agriculture, and quality inspection. In May, Chen Xiaoguang, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, visited Austria. In November, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Resources Ruprecht visited China.
On May 28, 2016, the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Austrian Foreign Minister Kurtz exchanged congratulatory messages. On March 22nd, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries held a reception in Beijing to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria. Kerr and his party attended the reception. In May, Chen Xiaoguang, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, was invited to visit Austria. In September, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Haixing went to Austria to hold deputy foreign minister-level consultations between the two countries.
In September 2017, Fischer, former Austrian president and chairman of the Austrian-Chinese Friendship Association, visited China, and Vice President Li Yuanchao and Comrade Wen Jiabao met separately. In the same month, the Mayor of the Austrian Federal Parliament and member of the Supervisory Board of the Austrian-Chinese Friendship Association visited China, and Wang Chen, vice chairman and secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, met. In November, Lin Wenyi, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was invited to visit Austria.
In April 2018, Austrian President Vanderbilt and Prime Minister Kurtz and four Federal Ministers paid a state visit to China and attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Meeting. During this visit, the two sides established a friendly strategic partnership between China and Austria. After the meeting, the two sides signed 11 intergovernmental cooperation agreements. In May, Blaise, the first deputy speaker of the Austrian National Assembly, led a senior delegation of the Austrian-Chinese Friendship Association to visit China. In July, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the Iranian nuclear issue and paid a formal visit to Austria. In August, Austrian Prime Minister Kurtz led the Minister of Economy, Education, and Transportation to visit Hong Kong. In October, Bai Machilin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, visited Austria and met with the President of the Austrian National Assembly, the Third Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament. In the same month, Austrian Finance Minister Leger visited China.
