Public Diplomacy: Austrian Parliament Delegation Meets Chinese Friendship Association

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Image from article, with caption: "Li Xaolin, President of the CPAFFC (Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries / Gesellschaft des chinesischen Volkes für Freundschaft mit dem Ausland / 中国人民对外友好协会)."

Following the recent visit to China by Austrian President van der Bellen with the largest business delegation to date, an Austrian delegation of members of the National Assembly and the Federal Council is now on the road in China under the leadership of the second President of the National Council, Doris Bures. The aim of the trip is to further deepen Austrian-Chinese relations, in particular a meeting with Li Xaolin, President of the CPAFFC - Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (中国人民对外友好协会).

The state visit of Federal President Alexander van der Bellen and his comprehensive delegation was an important milestone in the intensification of relations between China and Austria.

"This momentum must now be used and relations between our countries must be further strengthened," said the Second President of the National Council, Doris Bures, on the occasion of the start of her official visit to the People's Republic as part of a delegation of members of the National Council and the Federal Council.

The official programme includes a meeting with Li Xaolin, President of the Friendship Society, and Wu Weihua, Vice-President of the People's Congress. The discussion will focus on developing bilateral contacts, particularly at parliamentary level.

Karlheinz Kopf had already met Li Xaolin 3 years ago.

Li Xiaolin is a daughter of former President of the People's Republic of China, Li Xiannian.

Li Xiaolin is currently party secretary and has been with the Friendship Association since 1975. Since 2011 she has been their chairwoman.

She is also a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The delegation will also meet Qian Hongshan, Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party, on the New Silk Road and relations between China and the European Union.

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These are followed by talks with the provincial leadership of Shaanxi, one of the most important locations for technology and software companies in China.

Finally, the delegation will visit the International Trade & Logistics Park in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. The location is an important hub for ship and rail transport in central China.