
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday expressed hope that the new Austrian government will continue to pursue a friendly policy toward China, promote bilateral relations to jointly address current global challenges, and play a constructive role in international peace and development.Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a phone conversation with Austria's Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, at the latter's request.Noting that the international landscape is undergoing major changes, Meinl-Reisinger said Austria values and looks forward to deepening its strong cooperative relationship with China, both bilaterally and multilaterally.The new Austrian government adheres to the one-China policy and will maintain consistency in its China policy, she said.Defending the multilateral trading systemDuring the phone call, Wang said the United States' reckless imposition of tariffs on various countries at will has severely disrupted international trade and the global economic order."This is a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying," he said.As a responsible country, China will continue to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, safeguard the international order based on international law, and commit itself to high-level opening up while sharing development opportunities with the world, said Wang.As two major pillars and two vast markets of the global economy, China and the European Union should shoulder international responsibilities, jointly defend the multilateral trading system, and work together to build an open world economy, he added.Meinl-Reisinger said the EU looks forward to enhancing economic and trade cooperation with China, maintaining stable and constructive development in EU-China relations, and jointly addressing global challenges.The EU will stand united in safeguarding its interests and the multilateral trading system, she added.