Ｓｅｃｏｎｄ Ｐｒｅｓｉｄｅｎｔ ｏｆ Ａｕｓｔｒｉａｎ Ｎａｔｉｏｎａｌ Ｃｏｕｎｃｉｌ Ｍａｇ． Ｂａｒｂａｒａ Ｐｒａｍｍｅｒ Ｖｉｓｉｔｓ Ｃｈｉｎａ

At the invitation of the CPAFFC， a high-ranking delegation of the Austrian Association for Promotion of Friendship and Cultural Relations with China (AAPFCRC) led by Ms. Mag. Barbara Prammer， second president of the Austrian National Council， vice chairperson of the Austrian Social Democratic Party and of the Board of Supervisors to the AAPFCRC， paid a goodwill visit to China from July 15 to 25， 2004. Members of the delegation included members of the Austrian National Council， high-ranking officials of the Austrian Foreign Ministry and local governments， leading members of the AAPFCRC and leaders of Chinese Austrians and overseas Chinese.

The delegation’s visit to China aimed at deepening Sino-Austrian friendship， knowing more about China’s reform and opening up and promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between the localities of China and Austria. Braving the sweltering hot summer， the delegation visited Beijing， Tianjin， Jinan， Qingdao， Shanghai and Hangzhou， where they were accorded warm reception by the Chinese friends. Jia Qinglin， chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Chen Haosu， CPAFFC president; Su Guang， CPAFFC vice president; Zhang Zhijun， vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee; Zuo Ming， vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tianjin Municipal People’s Congress; Han Yuqun， governor of Shandong Province; Zhang Zongliang， vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial People’s Congress; Xia Geng， mayor of Qingdao; Zhou Muyao， vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress; and Zhong Shan， vice governor of Zhejiang Province， respectively met with the delegation， briefed about China’s reform and opening up， and expressed their aspiration to further promote exchanges and cooperation between China and Austria and the European Union. The representatives of the Austrian local authorities signed letters of intent and memorandums with the representatives of relevant Chinese cities and districts on the promotion of exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin Meeting with the Delegation

On July 16， Jia Qinglin， member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC， met with Ms. Prammer and her party at the Diaoyutai State Guest House. The meeting was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Chairman Jia expressed his welcome to the distinguished Austrian guests who came from afar， and said， Austria is China’s important cooperative partner in Europe. China has always attached great importance to developing friendly relations with Austria on the basis of equality and mutual benefit and mutual respect. In the past 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations， the relations between the two countries with a solid political basis have been developing smoothly and their economic and trade cooperation with great potentiality has experienced a fast development. Friendship between the two countries has struck root in the hearts of the people. On the part of China all this is satisfactory.

Jia pointed out， the Chinese National People’s Congress and the CPPCC have kept friendly exchanges and cooperative relations with the Austrian National Council， playing an active role in consolidating and developing bilateral relations. We appreciate Austria’s one China policy and hope that the Austrian National Council will continue to make efforts to push the development of Sino-Austrian friendly relations and attach importance to and show understanding of China’s principled stand on the Taiwan and Tibetan issues.

Ms. Prammer said， the Austrian National Council and government attach great importance to Austria’s relations with China and value China’s important role in the international affairs. She spoke highly of the progress of the cooperation between the two countries in various fields and friendly exchanges between the two peoples since the two countries established diplomatic relations. She hoped that the two sides would further strengthen substantial cooperation in the fields of culture and friendship cities.

Friendship and Cooperation between China and Austria

After Ms. Prammer and her party arrived in Beijing， CPAFFC Vice President Su Guang met with the delegation and held a reception in their honour. Former Chinese ambassadors to Austria Wang Shu， Yang Chengxu and Liu Changye， and Austrian Ambassador to China Hans Dietmar Schweisgut were also present at the reception. Su Guang expressed his welcome to Ms. Prammer’s and her party’s visit to China and on behalf of the CPAFFC conferred the honorary title of Friendship Ambassador upon Dr. Gerd Kaminski， vice president of the AAPFCRC， in recognition of his unremitting efforts and outstanding contributions to the promotion of Austria-China friendship in the past more than 30 years.

Zhang Zhijun， vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee， met with and entertained Ms. Prammer， vice chairperson of the Austrian Social Democratic Party， and expressed his welcome to her coming to visit China.

In Beijing Ms. Prammer and her party called on the leading officials of Chaoyang District and Dongcheng District. The Austrian local authorities would have a sculpture garden named after Johann Strauss Jr.， Austrian king of waltz， built in Chaoyang Park as a present. A memorandum of cooperation between the Ninth District of Vienna and Dongcheng District of Beijing was signed. The Austrian guests visited No. 65 Middle School.

In Tianjin a memorandum of establishing friendly relations between the Sixth District of Vienna and Nankai District of Tianjin was signed.

In Shandong Ms. Prammer and her party attended a briefing about the economic development of Shandong Province， visited the Jinan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone and Haier Industrial Park. A memorandum of cooperation between Braunau of Upper Austria State and Qingdao was signed.

In Shanghai， the delegation called on the government of Pudong New Area， and learnt about Shanghai’s changes and fast development. The delegation also called on the government of Luwan District.

On July 25， CPAFFC President Chen Haosu who had just returned from his visit to Africa gave a farewell dinner in honour of Ms. Prammer and her party whose visit in China was to wind up. He expressed his welcome to Ms. Prammer’s and her party’s visit to China and hoped that more Austrian statesmen would visit China to enhance understanding and friendship. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the CPAFFC， seven important Austrian figures including the president， the federal chancellor and the foreign minister sent messages of congratulations to the CPAFFC， making us greatly moved. The AAPFCRC and its leader Dr. Kaminski have made unremitting efforts and great contributions to promoting Sino-Austrian friendship in the past more than 30 years. Chen expressed his congratulations to Dr. Kaminski for being conferred upon the title of Friendship Ambassador. Ms. Prammer said， the successful visit has achieved its aim of knowing more about China， enhancing friendship and promoting cooperation between the localities of the two countries. She expressed her gratitude to the CPAFFC for its meticulous arrangement and warm reception.