Sichuan Province, China - On September 27th, 2023, a momentous event took place as Yang Xingping, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, China, and Christine Haberlander, Vice Governor of Upper Austria State, Austria, officially inked the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to bolster friendly cooperation between these two regions for the years 2023 to 2026. This significant agreement marks the inception of a new era in the deepening of amicable relations between the two territories. Christine Haberlander led a delegation to visit Sichuan on September 26thto 27th. They attended the 2023 series of events for the "Belt and Road" Sichuan International Friendship City Cooperation and Development Forum.

Haberlander's return to Sichuan after her first visit in 2019 was met with awe and appreciation. Once again, she found herself captivated by the region's renowned Sichuan cuisine, especially the delectable hotpot. "I love Sichuan's cuisine. Last night, I had hotpot, and it was incredibly delicious! Moreover, the rich flavours and diverse cooking methods of Sichuan cuisine left a lasting impression on me, and I believe it is very healthy," she exclaimed. Beyond gastronomy, she also marvelled at the rapid urban development in Sichuan during her recent visit. "During this trip to Sichuan, I saw many electronic cars on the streets, which left a deep impression on me," she said. "Austria pays special attention to sustainability and green building, and we believe there is great potential for collaboration in this regard."

Highlighting the significance of cooperation between the two regions, Haberlander emphasized, "Although Upper Austria State is small in size, cooperation with Sichuan is crucial." Both sides hold optimistic expectations for collaboration in areas such as education, trade, culture, and tourism.

"In fact, in 2019, both sides signed an MoU, but it was temporarily postponed due to the pandemic," she explained. The re-signing of the MoU underscores the commitment of Sichuan Province and Upper Austria State to strengthen cooperation across various domains, including economics, social issues, culture, and more, in the post-pandemic era. Both parties accord great importance to their friendly cooperation and plan to advance their ties through a variety of activities aimed at deepening their friendship. "This visit to Sichuan is also aimed at demonstrating Upper Austria's commitment to and appreciation for cooperation with Sichuan," Haberlander added.

In the realms of education and trade, both parties will establish academic partnerships between educational and research institutions, such as Upper Austria State University of Applied Sciences or Johannes Kepler University Linz. They will actively promote talent exchange, including student and faculty exchanges in various research fields. Collaborative projects and activities, including student exchange programs, as well as participation in each other's conferences and trade fairs, will be initiated to bolster the promotion of products and services offered by enterprises.

"Upper Austria, in particular, sees great potential for cooperation with Sichuan in the fields of culture and tourism," Haberlander emphasized. "Especially in terms of culture, Austria's culture is a beautiful calling card, and Sichuan Province is no different." In the near future, Upper Austria State plans to extend invitations to Sichuan to participate in concerts, jointly organize exhibitions and cultural events, support the marketing of the tourism industry, and mutually engage in tourism and cultural activities and conferences. "2024 marks the 200th anniversary of the composer Anton Bruckner's birth, and we plan to invite Sichuan's choir to Austria to participate in a rich cultural program, performing traditional songs from both regions."