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Asian Expats in Austria | Asians in Vienna | Bilateral Relations
Austria and Asian-Pacific countries - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, diplomacy, culture and tourism
Huawei Austria Sponsors Austrian Chinese Business Association
The Chinese technology group Huawei and the ACBA Austrian Chinese Business Association have sealed their cooperation at an evening event entitled "Huawei - Inside & Outside" at the Grand Hotel Vienna. Huawei is disputed internationally because of its 5G wireless network technology and its close connection to the Chinese government. Huawei maintains good business relations with the largest carriers in Austria, A1 Telekom Austria (America Movil), Hutchison Whampoa (Drei Austria) and T-Mobile Austria and supplies them with expensive 5G network equipment. In addition, Huawei will open its first flagship store outside China in downtown Vienna in the summer of 2019.
February 27, 2019
Kneissl in the Eastern South Asia Countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal
Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl's journey through Eastern South Asia took her via Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan to India. The trip focused on bilateral relations between Austria and the individual countries, development cooperation and the expansion of economic activities in the fields of tourism, energy and infrastructure.
February 26, 2019
Meet UNIDO's Director General Li Yong
Li Yong (李勇), born in 1951, is a senior economic and financial policymaker from the People’s Republic of China. He is the current Director General of UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization, based in Vienna, Austria. Previously he served as Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China.
February 22, 2019
Chancellor Kurz in Washington, D.C. - Trump Demands Higher Military Expenditures
US President Donald Trump and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met in the White House for a working meeting. The trade relations, the demand for higher military expenditures for Austria, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project and the Serbia-Kosovo conflict were addressed.
February 21, 2019
Meet the Ambassador of China to Austria: H.E. Li Xiaosi
Ambassador Li Xiaosi (李晓驷) has been Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Austria since 2016. He has been a career diplomat since 1985 with previous oversees posts in Germany and Switzerland. He speaks Mandarin, German and English.
February 20, 2019
Overseas Chinese in Vienna Celebrate Spring Festival and Start of Year of the Earth Pig
The Chinese Ambassador to Austria, H.E. Li Xiaosi and the Director General of UNIDO, Mr. Li Yong, toasted the Chinese New Year together with Mayor Ludwig and other Viennese Overseas Chinese.
February 13, 2019
The Chinese New Year of the Earth Pig - What Does it Mean?
Since 5 February 2019 we are in the year of the pig according to the Chinese zodiac sign. Celebrated not just in China but overseas in Chinese communities across the world, including Vienna, custom sees every year characterised by one of the 12 spirit animals of the Chinese zodiac. The festivities typically run for two weeks, from New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month.
February 13, 2019
Austrian State Visit to the Mutually Hostile Countries Japan and South Korea
The two East Asian states, South Korea and Japan, which have been enemies for more than 100 years, are visited by Chancellor Kurz as part of the trip to East Asia. The trip is focusing on the economy, digitisation, education and transport. Meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon are held in Seoul and with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.
February 11, 2019
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Vienna, Austria
Updated address and contact details of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Vienna, Austria (中华人民共和国驻奥地利共和国大使馆 / Botschaft der Volksrepublik China in der Republik Österreich), including Political Section, Economic and Commercial Section, Culture Section, Science and Technology Section, Office of the Defence Attaché, Consular Section, Protocol and Administrative Section and the Section of Education.
February 8, 2019
What Does the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement Mean for Austria?
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs has calculated that the savings potential through the elimination of customs duties amounts to around one billion euros across the EU and to around EUR 34 million for Austria. For Austria this means a rather modest growth effect of 0.011 percent of GDP.
February 4, 2019
EU-Japan Agreement Secures EUR 34 Million in Jobs and Prosperity in Austria
The EU's Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan entered into force on 1 February 2019. For Austria, Japan is by far the second most important market in Asia and the third most important overseas trading partner. About 1000 Austrian exporters are active in Japan, 80 companies have local branches. In 2017 the trade volume reached an all-time high of 3.5 billion euros.
February 4, 2019
Filipinos in Vienna Celebrated the Sinulog Festival
The Filipino diaspora in Vienna, Austria celebrated the Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival, which is an annual cultural and religious festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, and is the centre of the Santo Niño Catholic celebrations in the Philippines.
February 1, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Austria: H.E. Ms. Maria Cleofe Natividad
The new Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Austria Ms. Maria Cleofe Natividad presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
January 9, 2018 · Updated: February 1, 2019; 17:00
Hallstatt App 2.0 - Protective Measures against Chinese Tourists
The Upper Austrian community defends itself against too many tourists, especially from China and South Korea. Since the Chinese built an exact copy of the city in Guangdong Province, and the South Koreans partly shot a soap opera in Hallstatt, the popularity of the Dachstein community has increased enormously. As a result, more and more tourists come to Hallstatt as part of a bus tour classic with 4 destinations including Hallstatt. In the previous year there were exactly 19,344 coaches. For the first time in the history of Austria, a town is now defending its friendly visitors by implementing the new "Traffic Concept Hallstatt 2018" and by strictly controlling the entrance to the town centre.
January 29, 2019
Kick-off for the 150th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Austria
This year, Japan and Austria are commemorating the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This week the kick-off event took place with the Japanese Ambassador in Vienna Kiyoshi Koinuma and the Head of the Section for Foreign Cultural Relations (Sektion V - Kulturelle Auslandsbeziehungen) at the Foreign Ministry, Section Head Ambassador Dr. Teresa Indjein.
January 25, 2019
Austrian Development Cooperation until 2021 - Sustainable Development Reaching People
In the next three years, the Austrian Development Cooperation will focus above all on the promotion of women and local development assistance.
January 24, 2019
Mahathir - Kurz: World's Oldest Prime Minister Meets Europe's Youngest
Mahathir Mohamad, who has been Prime Minister of Malaysia for the second time since 2018 at the age of 93, paid a working visit to Austria. In Vienna he met, among others, Federal President Alexander van der Bellen and 32-year-old Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
January 22, 2019
New Appointments of Austrian Diplomatic Posts Abroad
At its meeting of 25 April 2018, the Austrian Council of Ministers decided to entrust the following Foreign Ministry officials with the direction of Austrian Missions.
April 25, 2018 · Updated: January 11, 2019; 17:15
Meet the Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to Austria: H.E. Mr. Sithong Chitnhothinh
The new Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to Austria, H.E. Mr. Sithong Chitnhothinh presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
January 9, 2019
New Austrian Foreign Trade Strategy: Growth, Jobs, Prosperity
In a joint event in the Aula of Sciences, the Federal Government's new foreign trade strategy was presented by Economics Minister Margarete Schramböck, Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl and President of the Chamber of Commerce Harald Mahrer. The key points of the strategy are the following: Perspective, value orientation, location effect, focal points, future orientation, communication, efficient coordination.
December 20, 2018
Afghanistan - Reopening of Austrian Embassy in Kabul in Discussion
At about the same time as the drama about the 16-year-old girl killed by a 17-year-old Afghan in her childrens' room in Steyr took its course in Austria, H.E. Idrees Zaman Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan and Austria's Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl met to discuss the reopening of the Austrian Embassy in Kabul, visa issues and other issues of mutual interest.
December 14, 2018
Pandas of Schönbrunn Zoo Vienna on their Journey to Sichuan, China
The two-year-old panda twins Fu Feng and Fu Ban, born in Vienna, relocated to Sichuan Province in China in transport boxes and by airplane as originally planned.
December 6, 2018
What Does Austria Have to Do with the Silk Road Project?
The Chinese "One Belt One Road Initiative", also known as the New Silk Road, is China's strategic measure of the century to make the entire Euro-Asian region including Africa even more dependent on its products and investments. Now the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and the ambassadors from China and Kazakhstan have joined forces to convince the Austrian population and politicians that the connection of Austria via broad-gauge railway to the Silk Road is an opportunity of the century.
November 30, 2018
19th Century Japan - Place of Western Longing and Enthusiasm
The exhibition "Fascination Japan" of the Kunstforum is dedicated to "Japomania" - the Western world's enthusiasm for the aesthetics and imagery of the Far East. It traces the development from the fascination for the exotic, the novel, from the beginnings in the 1860s until well after the turn of the century, to its amalgamation into the formal vocabulary of Western painting, the influence of its aesthetics on the development of modernism around 1900.
November 5, 2018 · Updated: November 23, 2018; 17:00
Austria Strengthening Venture Capital Structures with Seoul and Shanghai
Margarete Schramböck, Austrian Federal Minister for Digitisation and Business, visited Seoul, the capital of South Korea and China's greater Shanghai metropolitan area, together with a high-ranking delegation of experts from the fields of digitisation, science and business, with the aim of strengthening Austria as a location for innovation.
November 9, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of Australia to Austria: H.E. Mr. Brendon Hammer
Dr. Brendon Hammer is the Australian Ambassador to Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary, Kosovo, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia.
November 5, 2018
Japan and Austria are Preparing for Celebrations of 150 Years of Diplomatic Relations
In 2019, Japan and Austria will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. As part of the preparations for the celebrations, an increasing number of meetings and consultations are currently taking place between the two countries.
November 2, 2018
Japan's Largest Airline ANA Expands Service Between Tokyo and Vienna
The Japanese ANA - All Nippon Airways relies on Vienna as its European hub for business flights to Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Poland and is expanding its range of services as a result of the facilitation provided by the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
October 31, 2018
Japan-Austria Relations - Kurz Met Shinzo Abe
During the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Brussels, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, and Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met for bilateral talks. The meeting focused on the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Austria next year, the new tax convention between Japan and Austria, the Japan-European Union (EU) relations and the situation in North Korea.
October 30, 2018
Austrian Airlines - More Women in the Cockpit and Daily Flights to Tokyo
Become one of the few female pilots at Austrian Airlines. A total of 100 fully-trained pilots are currently being sought. As part of its expansion, Lufthansa's subsidiary intends to significantly increase the proportion of women pilots. The airline is also expanding its services to Tokyo, namely six weekly flights from March 2019 and daily flights during the 2019 summer timetable.
October 25, 2018
China, the Rising Great Power of the 21st Century and the Austrians
At the Kreisky Forum, Austrian China experts (Schweisgut, Löw, Giner-Reichl, Witt-Löw) discussed the rising great power of the 21st century.
October 22, 2018
Ambassador Traina on Trade-War: "Donald Trump is Europe's Greatest Hope"
In an interview with the trend-magazine the US ambassador in Vienna, Trevor Traina, warns of the Chinese, and that the theft of intellectual property could also happen to Europe's key industries. Donald Trump's unpredictability is therefore "Europe's greatest hope" to avert such a scenario in time.
October 19, 2018
Vietnam to Strengthen Relations with Austria and the EU
The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nguyễn Xuân Phúc pays a visit to Vienna in the run-up to the Brussels ASEM Summit between the EU and Asian states.
October 16, 2018
Agressive Southern Chinese Airline Launches Shenzhen-Vienna Service
The South Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines is pushing ahead with its expansion into Europe by adding Vienna - Shenzhen as the next non-stop route after Zurich at the end of August. The new twice-weekly flights will take off on October 20th, connecting Vienna with Shenzhen on Thursdays and Saturdays using the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft (see picture).
October 12, 2018
Outlook - Chinese Tourists and the Destination Austria
With around 900,000 arrivals (+23%) and 1.3 million overnight stays (+25%) in 2017, China is Austria's most important Asian market of origin with the greatest growth potential. From January to July 2018, Austria also recorded record figures with around 542,000 arrivals (+ 8.2) and around 781,000 overnight stays (+ 11.5 %) from China.
October 3, 2018 · Updated: October 11, 2018; 22:55
Embassy and Permanent Mission of Nepal in Vienna, Austria
The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Nepal in Vienna's 4th district was opened in November 2017. In addition to serving as the residential Embassy of Nepal to the Republic of Austria, it is also concurrently accredited to Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovenia.
September 19, 2018
Expansion of Nepal-Austria Relations Beyond Mountaineering
Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali paid a working visit to Austria. The visit focused on bilateral relations and the opening of the embassy in November last year.
September 19, 2018
Sri Lankan Ambassador to Vienna Surprisingly Recalled
Sri Lanka's President Mr. Maithripala Sirisena has recalled his ambassador to Austria, Mrs. Priyanee Wijesekera. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry has confirmed this, but has not given any official reason for the recall.
September 17, 2018 · Updated: September 18, 2018; 09:01
Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Vienna, Austria
Updated address and contact details of the Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Vienna, Austria, the Honorary Consulates of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Salzburg an Graz and the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the International Organizations in Vienna.
June 17, 2016 · Updated: September 14, 2018; 13:15
Cooperation with the Indian Film Industry: Bollywood in Austria
Indian production companies visit potential film locations in Austria for future films. With the aim of exploring Austria as a backdrop for future Bollywood films, six producers from India's most renowned production houses will be visiting Austria from 9 to 15 September 2018.
September 7, 2018
British-Indian-Austrian Anadi Bank Remains on Growth Course
The former Austrian branches of Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank International were bought by Indian Investor Sanjeev Kanoria and transferred to British-Indian-Austrian Anadi Bank in 2013. The bank continues its successful growth course in the first half of 2018, although the result from ordinary business activities declined by 37% and profit after tax by 42% compared to the same period of the previous year. The bank describes itself as a bank with the strengths of a tiger. The Anadi Tiger establishes, on the one hand, a symbolic connection to India, on the other hand, he embodies strength, speed, security and flexibility - qualities that the bank expects from itself. Also, Anadi means “eternal” in Hindi and stands for tradition, reliability, and sustainability.
September 7, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Austria: H.E. Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Khan
The new Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Austria, H.E. Mr. Mansoor Ahmad Khan presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
September 5, 2018
Public Diplomacy: Austrian Parliament Delegation Meets Chinese Friendship Association
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).
May 29, 2018
Who is Johannes Peterlik, Secretary General Designate at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
The current Deputy Head of Section V for Cultural Foreign Relations of the BMEIA Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Johannes Peterlik will take over the function of Secretary General for Foreign Affairs on 1 June 2018. The current Secretary General Dr. Michael Linhart becomes Ambassador in Paris.
May 25, 2018
Austrian Airlines Flies Once Again to Tokyo
As of today, Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines will again be flying directly to the Japanese capital. Due to changed economic fundamentals, the route, which was closed in autumn 2016, appears to be profitable again.
May 15, 2018
Austria, the OSCE and the Asia Pacific - Effective Multilateralism in a Globalized World
The Austrian Foreign Ministry in the framework of its Chairmanship of the OSCE Asian Contact Group (Afghanistan, Australia, Korea, Japan and Thailand), is organizing a conference on “Effective Multilateralism in a globalized world - The case of Europe and Asia Pacific” at Palais Niederösterreich, Vienna. The conference will focus on multilateral security mechanisms in Europe and the Asia Pacific region, as well as on economic connectivity and co-operation.
May 14, 2018
Fresh Hallstatt Air Instead of Toxic Chinese Smoke
Tens of thousands of tourists from China meanwhile visit Hallstatt in Upper Austria every year. Two companies now offer healthy Hallstatt air in cans to the Chinese and expanded Asian market. The inhabitants and the municipal council of Hallstatt are not thrilled.
May 11, 2018
Hongkong Holding Company Completes Acquisition of Majority Stake in Austrian Lingerie Brand Wolford
Following the acquisition of 50.87% of the shares (for at least €36M) from the previous majority shareholders, Fosun Industrial Holdings Limited (Hong Kong Central) is now the new main shareholder of Wolford. The Hongkong financial investor, which is the investment vehicle of Shanghai based Fosun Group, systematically invests in the global fashion and consumer goods industry, and the management of its growing portfolio in the fashion sector was recently put in the hands of Fosun Fashion Group, which holds stakes in the German Tom Tailor Group and the French luxury brand Lanvin, amongst other holdings
May 4, 2018
Vienna's Attractiveness as a Location for Business Continues to Grow
For the sixth year in a row, Vienna recorded the highest number of companies settling in the city. After Vienna had already achieved a record figure in the previous year with 178 international new additions, this was again exceeded last year with 191 new companies, which is an increase of 13%. These business establishments together are responsible for investments totalling €537 million and 1,087 new jobs. There are 344 new foreign invested businesses throughout Austria. German companies remain the number one investors in Austria.
April 30, 2018
South Korea's LG Electronics Acquires Austrian Automotive Supplier ZKW for €1.1 Bln
South Korean electronics manufacturer LG Electronics is acquiring the Lower Austrian lighting and electronics systems specialist ZKW for more than 1.1 billion euros. It plans to buy a 70 percent stake in ZKW Holding, a supplier to Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Its holding company LG Corp. will purchase the remaining stake for 330 million Euro. LG hopes to expand its position in the automotive lighting sector for self-driving cars. ZKW was previously wholly owned by the entrepreneur Ulrich Mommert.
April 26, 2018
