Xi says a growing China can be partner to help Europe tackle challenges

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- A growing and developing China is not the source of Europe's problems, but a partner that can help Europe address its challenges, said Chinese President Xi Jinping during his meeting with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker in Beijing on Friday. Xi stressed that China and Europe should focus on areas of cooperation, resolve economic and trade frictions through dialogue and consultation, and achieve win-win results and common development. Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria, Xi said trust and friendship are the valuable features of China-Austria relations, transcending differences in social systems, history, culture and development stages. He called on the two sides to consolidate political mutual trust, sustain the positive momentum of high-level exchanges, enhance mutual trust and dispel misgivings through communication, and lay a solid political foundation for future cooperation. Xi said that during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, China will foster emerging industries, upgrade traditional industries, and further expand opening-up, with a focus on the service sector. China Opportunity 2.0 will bring not only market dividends but also innovation dividends, he noted. China stands ready to work with Austria to expand practical cooperation in emerging fields such as new-energy vehicles, artificial intelligence, digital economy and green development, and foster new engines for economic and trade growth, Xi said. Noting that China-Austria friendship enjoys extensive public support, Xi said the two sides should expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, facilitate personnel flows, and bring the peoples of the two countries even closer. Stocker said that Austria is committed to fostering its friendly strategic partnership with China, and adheres to the one-China policy. Stocker called on the two countries to build on the long-standing cooperation and mutual trust to comprehensively strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, innovation and other fields, boost cultural, tourism and other people-to-people exchanges, and elevate bilateral relations to new heights. He said Austria actively supports the development of EU-China relations and hopes both sides can resolve economic and trade differences through candid dialogue and consultation. Austria is ready to work with China to uphold multilateralism, strengthen multilateral coordination, advance sustainable development, tackle challenges including climate change, and safeguard global prosperity and stability, added Stocker. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)