Taicang's cooperation with Austria is deepening beyond economic trade into cultural heritage, social welfare, and rural vitalization. On Sept 2, Walter Rosenkranz, president of the Austrian National Council, visited Taicang, marking the third major delegation from Austria's political leadership this year, following visits by Styria Governor Mario Kunasek in April and Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger in June.

During his itinerary, Rosenkranz explored local traditional culture at the Jiangnan Sizhu Museum, expressing interest in the region's national intangible cultural heritage and trying his hand at the zhongruan, a plucked string instrument,

Walter Rosenkranz, president of Austria's National Council, tries playing the zhongruan, a plucked instrument with similarities to the guitar, in Taicang on Sept 2. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

He also toured the Donglin Wanqing Neighborly Service Center to observe community-level elder care, traditional Chinese medicine services, and local cultural pursuits. In Wanfeng village, a traditional water village in Chengxiang town, he strolled along rural waterways and sampled local treats at a village cafe, praising the relaxing atmosphere of Jiangnan's countryside.

These high-level interactions reflect the momentum surrounding the 55th anniversary of Sino-Austrian diplomatic relations, built on a strong foundation of industrial partnership.

Taicang currently hosts 49 Austrian-invested enterprises with total investment reaching $192 million. Prominent firms — including TIGER Coatings, EBNER Furnaces, Starlinger, and ALPLA — have established manufacturing bases and branch offices, driving a strong industrial cluster in advanced machinery, new materials, and logistics.

Starlinger Plastics Machinery (Taicang). [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]