From 16 to 23 April 2026, the Governor of the Austrian province of Styria (in German:Steiermark), Mario Kunasek, led a high-level 60-member political and business delegation to China, reaffirming Styria’s long-term commitment to cooperation with Chinese partners and opening new avenues for collaboration in industry, innovation, and green development. The official delegation included Deputy Governor Manuela Khom, Provincial Councillor for Economic Affairs Willibald Ehrenhoefer, Provincial Councillor for Transportation Claudia Holzer, and President of the Styrian Parliament Gerald Deutschmann, alongside representatives of leading Styrian institutions.
The business delegation organized by ICS InternationalisierungsCenter Steiermark included some of Styria’s most important companies with an interest in intensifying ties with China. Major internationally active Styrian companies such as AT&S, AVL List, and Magna International played a central role, showcasing the innovative strength and export capacity of the Styrian business location. The delegation also included representatives of Energie Steiermark, which installs Chinese wind turbines in Styria, as well as mining specialists from Sandvik Holding, for whom China is a market of major strategic importance.
Dialogue at the Highest Level and Clear Political Commitment
The programme comprised meetings and visits in Shanghai as well as in the provinces of Jiangsu, Guangdong, and Guizhou. Discussions with senior political leaders, including Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng and Governor Liu Xiaotao of Jiangsu, underlined the shared intention to expand cooperation in trade and industry, green and low‑carbon technologies, mobility, digitalisation, advanced manufacturing, and biomedicine. A key outcome of the visit was the renewal and conclusion of several memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements, including with Shanghai and Guangdong Province. These agreements signal continuity, reliability, and mutual trust at a time of global economic transformation.
Strong Economic Foundation and New Impetus
China is one of Styria’s most important economic partners, ranking among its top export and import markets. Styrian companies account for a significant share of Austria’s business activities in China, with around 60 Styrian firms already operating locally. Many have built long-term success based on strengths in engineering, automotive production, electronics, environmental technologies, and applied research. AT&S, for example, has been producing printed circuit boards in Shanghai for 25 years. These boards are used in computer chips found in almost all mobile phones. Magna manufactures vehicles jointly with its Chinese partner in a dedicated production facility. Another example of successful long-standing cooperation in Shanghai is the partnership with Tongji University, which dates back to AVL founder Hans List, who taught as a professor in Shanghai 100 years ago.
During company visits and networking events, the delegation identified concrete opportunities for further cooperation. A highlight of the visit was the meeting with e‑mobility company XPeng, where it was confirmed that a fourth XPeng model will be produced at Magna Steyr’s plant in Graz—an example of the high level of trust and industrial integration between Chinese and Styrian partners. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in environmental and green technologies, as well as in tourism and people-to-people exchange.
Styria as a Reliable Partner in Europe
Throughout the visit, the business location Styria presented itself as an innovation-driven industrial region with excellent R&D capabilities, a highly skilled workforce, and a strong commitment to sustainability—the “Green Heart of Austria.” Located in the centre of Europe and closely integrated into EU markets, Styria and its capital city Graz offer Chinese and international companies a stable, technology-oriented, and partnership-based gateway to Europe.
