China's top political advisor meets Austrian parliament president

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met with Walter Rosenkranz, president of the National Council of Austria, in Beijing Monday.

Noting that the two heads of state jointly established the China-Austria friendly strategic partnership in 2018, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations, Wang said both sides should take the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, enhance high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, and strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

The CPPCC National Committee is willing to enhance friendly exchanges with the Austrian side and contribute to deepening China-Austria relations, said Wang.

For his part, Rosenkranz said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 55 years ago, both sides have adhered to mutual equality and the friendship between the two countries has been continuously deepened. In recent years, high-level exchanges between Austria and China have been close, which is a positive signal of the in-depth development of bilateral relations, he added.

Rosenkranz said Austria adheres to the one-China policy and stands ready to enhance practical cooperation between the two sides to promote new development of the friendly strategic partnership between Austria and China.

China's top political advisor meets Austrian parliament president

China's consumer goods trade-in programs generated 1.54 trillion yuan (about 230 billion U.S. dollars) in sales as of Sunday, benefiting 206 million consumers nationwide, official data showed Monday.

Across the country, 27 provincial-level regions have rolled out subsidy policies for their locally produced product categories, which has boosted sales of 2.286 million related items.

Benefiting from these policies, the potential of commodity consumption continues to be unlocked, with purchases of green and smart products maintaining a steady growth momentum.

In the first seven months of this year, the retail sales of high-energy-efficiency home appliances by enterprises above the designated size increased by over 30 percent year on year, and sales of smart glasses and action cameras on major platforms also grow rapidly.

The market penetration rate of new energy passenger vehicles has exceeded 60 percent for four consecutive months.

China rolled out the subsidies in 2024 as part of a broader consumer goods trade-in program covering a wide range of products, including automobiles, smartphones and household appliances. The initiative has played a key role in boosting market confidence and stimulating domestic demand.

China trade-in programs generate 1.54 trln yuan sales, benefit 206 mln consumers