China Urges Austria to Soften Brussels' Hard Line

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger that China and Austria should respect each other's core interests and treat each other as partners rather than rivals, during a meeting in Beijing on Thursday.

The meeting took place amid tense relations between Beijing and Brussels, complicated by disputes over market access, attitudes toward Russia and the EU's growing trade deficit with China. In 2025, the deficit reached €360.6bn ($410.29bn), a year-over-year increase of 15%. Beijing is therefore seeking to bypass Brussels and build direct channels with individual European capitals.

Although EU member states agree on the need to reduce dependence on China, they differ in their approach to achieving it. France favors decisive action, while Germany, Spain and Austria prefer a more cautious approach.

Some 650 Austrian companies operate in China, and Chinese automakers such as Xpeng view Austria as a strategic base for their European production. Wang Yi praised Vienna's pragmatic policy and said he hoped Austria would play a constructive role in shaping relations with the EU.

Meinl-Reisinger described Austria's approach as European and pragmatic, aimed at strengthening sovereignty while maintaining stable and fair trade relations.

(Reuters, Max)