Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen reaffirmed Vienna's commitment to multilateral cooperation during Friday's meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, signaling deeper collaboration between the two nations as they approach a key diplomatic milestone.
In their Beijing discussions timed ahead of 2025's 55th anniversary of bilateral relations, both leaders emphasized shared priorities in green development and climate action. Van der Bellen specifically praised China's environmental initiatives while pledging continued adherence to the one-China policy, stating: "Austria will not waver under any circumstances."
The talks yielded concrete plans to expand partnerships in renewable energy, sustainable tourism, and cross-cultural exchanges. Wang highlighted progress since the 2018 establishment of the China-Austria friendly strategic partnership, noting: "Our cooperation blueprint now extends from traditional manufacturing to frontier green technologies."
Historical context framed part of the dialogue, with Wang connecting current multilateral efforts to WWII commemorations. He emphasized China's wartime sacrifices as the Eastern Front's main battleground while reaffirming the post-war international order, including Taiwan's status as part of China.
With Austria positioned as China's seventh-largest EU trading partner, business analysts anticipate new opportunities in circular economy projects and clean energy infrastructure. The nations agreed to establish working groups for 2025 anniversary programming, including joint cultural exhibitions and academic symposiums.
