Bright prospects for economic co-op between Austria, China

Economic cooperation between Austria and China can be further strengthened and deepened, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber President Christoph Leitl said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Austria and China can learn from each other in many aspects, and the two sides should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in concrete steps, Leitl said.

"Today, this country (China) plays a very important role, not only in the economic field but also in the political and especially in the cultural field", he said.

He believed that cooperation between Austria and China covered a wide range of fields, including the electronics industry, food industry, machinery manufacturing and steel industry.

Many Austrian companies have direct investments in China, and in recent years, there are also some Chinese investing in Austria.

However, the economic cooperation and trade relations between the two countries can be further strengthened, Leitl said.

Although Austria is a small country in area and population, he said, it has its unique advantages in many areas.

Austrian companies have brilliant performance in fields of infrastructure construction. In fields such as environmental technology and renewable energy, Austrian companies also possess many unique originality and mature technologies, Leitl said.

Tourism, in particular, plays an important role in promoting the bilateral economic and trade relations and mutual understanding between the two countries, he said.

"Tourism also brings people closer to each other,", he stressed. He hopes that more Chinese tourists could come to Austria and get to know this country.

Cooperation between Austria and China in science and technology, especially in the area of medical technology, also has very great prospects, Leitl said.

"In this area both countries have a very long and good tradition, and have strengths in technology. If we combine these strengths with each other, it goes much better for both of us", he said.

"China is a very important partner not only for Austria, but also for the entire European Union (EU). Compared to the U.S., Japan and India, China has a closer economic connection and a larger trading volume with the EU. That is, Europe and China have become partners and we should deepen and expand this partnership," he said.