Roadshow for China Int'l Supply Chain Expo held in Vienna

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 Trump administration's move to cut public funding for the Voice of America (VOA), a propaganda tool for the U.S. government, is due to competing interests and struggles between different political factions, a Chinese expert said during an interview on Monday.

U.S. President Donald Trump on March 14 signed an executive order, which listed the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency of VOA, as part of "unnecessary" federal bureaucracy.

More than 1,300 VOA employees, including journalists, producers and assistants, were reportedly placed on administrative leave on Saturday.

Diao Daming, deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Renmin University of China, shared his insights on why Trump halted funding for the agency during his second term.

"He feels that VOA has not effectively fulfilled its mission to make the United States great again and serve the country's interests. On the other hand, public opinion institutions under the USAGM, including VOA, have been openly critical of Trump, his team, and his administration, particularly regarding certain policies during his first term. After assuming office for a second term, Trump swiftly implemented this tough measure, which is evidently influenced by competing interests and struggles between different political factions," said Diao.

Founded in 1942, the VOA has long served as a political tool for the U.S. government, engaging in ideological confrontation and shaping public opinion. For over 80 years, regardless of whether the Democratic or Republican Party was in power, funding for institutions like VOA remained uninterrupted.

Experts described the VOA as a propaganda machine aimed at ideological infiltration in certain regions, as many of its programs are inaccessible within the United States and are instead broadcast exclusively to specific countries abroad.

"In the past, when I served as a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, I encountered VOA reporters at domestic events, international conferences, and various occasions. They would, for example, selectively ask questions during interviews, selectively edit our responses, and then selectively report and broadcast them. Given such practices, how much credibility can VOA really have?" said Yang Yujun, dean of the Academy of Media and Public Affairs at the Communication University of China.

Trump's cut to VOA due to struggles between different political factions: expert