On October 31, 2023, Miao Deyu, Director-General of the Department of Policy Planning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, held policy planning consultation with Gregor Koessler, Political Director-General of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Vienna. The two sides had in-depth exchanges of views on international and regional situations, respective foreign policies, as well as hotspot issues, including the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.