A roadshow for the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) was held in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday, highlighting bilateral cooperation and featuring the signing of cooperation agreements.
The business forum brought together more than 200 representatives from trade and investment promotion institutions, business associations, and enterprises from China and Austria.
Austrian representatives expressed their expectations for broader cooperation across various fields to jointly address global challenges and uphold the international trade order.
"We are suffering from the new policy in the U.S. since President Trump is in office. And we have big troubles also for our business relations around the globe. And China is an important partner for us. Why? The People's Republic of China is very interesting for free trade, open markets, and this is also our intention in Europe. So, conferences like this are a good milestone on the way to have a better world with free trade around the globe," said Christoph Matznetter, vice president of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.
Last year, Austria's exports to China rose by more than 7 percent, narrowing its trade deficit with China.
Over the past few years, several major Chinese companies have established their European headquarters in Vienna, including the train manufacturer CRRC and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
"Austria is strong for your automobile and machinery manufacturing as well as the chemicals and food processing. And these are the areas that the Chinese business community would like to seek opportunities in the future," said Sun Xiao, secretary general of the China Chamber of International Commerce.
Lin Shunjie, chairman of the China International Exhibition Center Group, emphasized the challenges facing global supply chain cooperation due to recent disruptions. He encouraged Austrian companies to take advantage of the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) as a gateway to the Chinese market.
"We see in recent years a lot of turbulence of the supply chain cooperation, particularly pandemics, geopolitical conflicts, and even war. I want to invite all Austrian companies to participate in CISCE, the supply chain expo in China, because that's a platform, that's an access for you to go to China, to go to the Chinese market," he said.
The third China International Supply Chain Expo will be held in Beijing from July 16 to 20 this year, focusing on supply chains in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and other industries.
After its stop in Austria, the Chinese trade delegation will travel to Italy on Sunday, followed by Serbia next Wednesday, where roadshows for the CISCE will take place.
Roadshow for China Int'l Supply Chain Expo held in Vienna
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceflight mission returned safely to Earth on Friday after completing their planned tasks aboard the Tiangong space station.
The return capsule of the Shenzhou-22 spaceship, carrying Shenzhou-21 astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 20:11 Beijing Time (1211 GMT), according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The returned astronauts were reported to be in good physical condition after landing, according to staff on site.
Zhang Lu was the first to exit the return capsule after it touched down on Earth.
"I'm thrilled to once again return to the embrace of our motherland. The Shenzhou-21 crew's seven-month stay in orbit would not have been possible without the care of our families and comrades, the support of leaders at all levels and all colleagues involved in the project, and above all, the backing of our country and our people. One sentence sums up my thoughts on my second space mission: 'It takes a whole team's devotion to make one person's voyage into the sea of stars,' " Zhang said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) shortly after he was carried out of the return capsule.
"I also have a gift to share with everyone. On the day of the Shenzhou-21 launch, the ground support team gave us an apple, wishing us a safe and smooth mission. Our safe return is their greatest wish. Tomorrow is May 30, the National Science and Technology Workers' Day. So when we left the space station, we specifically brought back an apple. We want to give it to all science and technology workers, and say 'thank you for your hard work'. At the same time, I wish our space industry continued prosperity, and every mission safe and smooth," he said.
"Returning to Earth and to the embrace of our motherland, I feel extremely secure and proud. Being entrusted with such a significant responsibility in my first space mission is a great honor. It is the trust of my country, the guidance of my predecessors, and the teamwork of the entire crew that enabled me to successfully complete the mission. This mission has taught me that the most beautiful posture of youth is to march out for the country. I will turn this space experience into the driving force for my continued progress, and continue to fight and strive for the manned space program," said crew member Wu Fei.
"From the ground laboratory to China's space station, it is our great motherland that has enabled me to achieve a perfect integration of my scientific ideals and spaceflight dreams. With the support of the entire project team, the assistance of researchers and scientists, and the care of so many people, our crew has worked as one and successfully completed all assigned scientific projects, including the first successful in-orbit breeding of small mammals, the growing of a thriving space vegetable garden with an even wider varieties, and the collection of valuable data from projects such as in-situ electrochemical and optical studies on lithium-ion batteries," said Zhang Hongzhang, who was the last of the astronauts to exit the spacecraft.
"Looking at Earth from space, I deeply felt that humanity is an indivisible community with a shared future. Now that I am back on Earth and have returned to my motherland, I feel an immense sense of security and warmth. Going forward, I will continue to build on these achievements and contribute to making China a strong power in space, science and technology," he said.
The returned crew members will now head to Beijing by plane and enter a quarantined recovery period, during which they will undergo comprehensive medical examinations and health assessments and start their recuperation process.
Prior to their return, the astronauts completed all planned tasks and handed over the space station to their three colleagues of the Shenzhou-23 mission who boarded the space station on May 25.
The crew's planned stay in-orbit was extended by approximately one month to further verify the technologies regarding the long-term stay of astronauts in orbit and fully use the supplies delivered by the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft in an emergency launch.
The Shenzhou-21 crew's original spaceship, which sent them into space on Oct 31 last year, was previously returned to Earth carrying the astronauts of the preceding Shenzhou-20 mission after tiny cracks were found in the viewport window of the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft's return capsule. That spacecraft was later safely brought back to Earth.
Shenzhou-21 crew return to Earth after successful seven-month mission in space
