A high-ranked Chinese business delegation led by the President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Mr. Ren Hongbin visited Austria from 13th to 16th March, 2025. The delegation facilitated in-depth discussions between Chinese and Austrian businesses across sectors including automotive, agriculture and food processing.
President Ren Hongbin met on March 14, 2025 with the Austrian Minister of Labour and Economy Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, State Secretary for Tourism Elisabeth Zehetner and the Vice President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Philipp Gady for discussions how to expand the bilateral economic relations between Austria and China and how to enable more personal exchanges and tourism. Minister Hattmannsdorfer emphasized: "Austria and China are strong economic partners: With over 600 Austrian companies in China and a trade volume of more than 15 billion euros annually, China is Austria’s fourth most important trading partner worldwide - and the most important in Asia. Especially in times when trade barriers are increasing, we need to strengthen existing relations and negotiate political solutions. The Chinese market offers great potential, especially in automotive, green technologies, urbanization, agriculture and forestry." CCPT Chairman Ren Hongbin also emphasized China’s commitment to fostering stronger economic and trade partnerships while ensuring the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
The March 13, 2025 “China-Austria Economic and Trade Forum and 3rd CISCE Roadshow” organized by CCPIT in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber WKO attracted around 200 representatives from trade and investment promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, business associations and enterprises from both countries. During the event, the China International Exhibition Center Group promoted the “3rd China International Supply Chain Expo” (CISCE) which will be held in Beijing from July 16 to 20 this year, focusing on supply chains of advanced manufacturing, clean energy and other industries.
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade CCPIT and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber WKO have maintained a strong partnership for decades: Already back in 1966, an agreement between CCPIT and WKO made it possible to establish an official Austrian Trade Office in Beijing, thus enabling Austrian companies to be represented in China five years before diplomatic relations between the two countries were established. CCPIT and its network in China are reliable partners for WKO’s ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA offices in mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu) when it comes to business delegations, trade fairs and technical information. WKO is also pleased that CCPIT recently opened a representative office in Vienna.
More info:
Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy
