On April 8, 2018, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with President Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria. The two heads of state jointly agreed to establish China-Austria friendly strategic partnership and promote China-Austria practical cooperation to new highs. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of Austria was present.

Xi Jinping welcomed Alexander Van der Bellen to pay a state visit to China for the first time and attend Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. Xi Jinping pointed out that it is the first time in the history of China-Austria exchanges that Mr. President headed a large high-level delegation composing of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and several ministers to visit China, fully demonstrating the great importance President himself and the Austrian government attach to developing relations with China. Mr. President will also lay a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes, which shows his respect towards and friendship with the Chinese people. Austria is an important cooperative partner of China in Europe. Both countries enjoy a long-standing history and splendid culture, and the two peoples hold friendly feelings towards each other. China appreciates that the new Austrian government led by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has for the first time written into its ruling programme the contents of actively developing relations with China as well as the "Belt and Road" initiative. China is willing to, together with Austria, jointly tap and release the potential for bilateral cooperation and sow more seeds of friendship and cooperation, so as to better benefit the two peoples.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Austria enjoy high economic complementarities, many converging points of interests, and broad fields, large space and great potential for cooperation. Both sides should take the establishment of friendly strategic partnership as an opportunity to enhance political guidance and top-level design, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, carry out more extensive communication and dialogue in various fields, upgrade the level of bilateral cooperation in such areas as judiciary, security and law enforcement, anti-corruption, fugitive repatriation and asset recovery and strengthen communication on multilateral affairs, in a bid to jointly safeguard world peace and stability. The two countries should expand new dimensions of bilateral practical cooperation and new channels of trade. China appreciates Austria's open attitude towards Chinese investment, and will continue expanding the opening up of the market. China welcomes more Austrian enterprises to invest in China. Both sides need to jointly push forward Asia-Europe connectivity to share huge market opportunities. China welcomes Austria to take an in-depth participation in cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and stands ready to enhance the alignment of respective development strategies with the Austrian side. China and Austria should continuously strengthen cooperation in joint research on giant pandas, tourism and other people-to-people and cultural areas, in a bid to make bilateral friendship get deeper into the hearts of the people.

Xi Jinping pointed out that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU). China-EU relations enjoy an overall sound development momentum. The EU's maintenance of unity, stability, openness and prosperity conforms to China's interests. China's consistent stance of supporting the European integration remains unchanged. It is hoped that Austria will actively play a constructive role in cementing China-EU strategic mutual trust and promoting China-EU all-round cooperation.

Alexander Van der Bellen expressed that he is very pleased to visit China. Since the reform and opening up, China has made unprecedented economic achievements and also provided important opportunities for the cooperation between Austria and China. It is delightful to see the sustained and in-depth development of bilateral relations. Austria is committed to deepening communication and cooperation with China in such areas as economy and trade, investment, scientific research, environmental protection, clean energy, culture and sports. Austria speaks highly of China's positive role in global affairs including countering climate change, and stands ready to cement communication and coordination with China. Austria will take over the rotating presidency of the EU this July, and the country is willing to play a positive role in deepening EU-China cooperation. Sebastian Kurz congratulated China on its proud development achievements. Austria is very glad to be a partner of China. It is unprecedented that President of Austria headed such a large delegation during his visit, which fully shows the enthusiasm of various circles in Austria for developing relations with China. Austria is full of expectation for pushing forward fruitful cooperation with China, and stands ready to facilitate closer Austria-China relations.

After the talks, both sides issued the Joint Declaration on Establishing Friendly Strategic Partnership Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Austria. The two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as the "Belt and Road" cooperation, judiciary, innovation, transportation, modern distribution, culture, sports and intellectual property rights.

Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Alexander Van der Bellen at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. President Xi Jinping's wife Mme. Peng Liyuan; Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Ding Xuexiang; Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier Liu He; Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Yang Jiechi; Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Chen Zhu; State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi; Vice Chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Chen Xiaoguang and He Lifeng as well as others were present.