On October 26, 2022, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs Wu Hongbo attended upon invitation the National Day Reception of the Austrian Embassy in China.

Wu Hongbo said in his speech that the recently successfully concluded 20th CPC National Congress is of great significance for both China and the larger world. China will continue to promote development as a top priority in governing and rejuvenating the country, pursue high-quality development, and work to accelerate the creation of a new development pattern. China will advance Chinese modernization at a faster pace by pursuing common prosperity for all, staying committed to material and cultural-ethical advancement, promoting harmony between humanity and nature, and following the path of peaceful development. China will continue to expand high-standard opening up, uphold true multilateralism, and work to make global governance fairer and more equitable. China stands ready to share with Austria and other countries the new opportunities China's expanded opening up will generate, to jointly pursue cooperation for common development.

Wu Hongbo noted that recent years have witnessed sound development of China-Austria relations, and the two sides have maintained close exchanges at all levels. Cooperation in bilateral trade, high-end manufacturing, digital economy, energy conservation and environmental protection, Belt and Road Initiative, and other fields has further deepened, and there have been many highlights in cultural and people-to-people exchanges such as holding art exhibitions in each other's country and giant panda research. China is ready to work with Austria to continuously deepen practical cooperation on the principle of treating each other as equals with mutual respect, and further enrich the substance of the China-Austria friendly strategic partnership.

Austrian Ambassador to China Andreas Riecken said that during Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen's visit to China in 2018, he and President Xi Jinping jointly established the China-Austria friendly strategic partnership. He recalled the congratulatory message President Xi Jinping sent to Van der Bellen not long ago on his re-election as Austrian President, and expressed the hope to see new progress in the extraordinary bilateral relationship between China and Austria in the next stage.

Wu Hongbo also exchanged views with Riecken on China-Austria relations, among others.