The 16th Congress of the World Federation of Hainanese Associations gathered over 3,200 people across the world, mainly overseas Hainanese, in the city of Sanya to deepen friendship, as well as to enhance cooperation and common development. 

The event kicked off on Nov 28 and one special attendee was Richard Trappl, dean of the Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna and head of the Hainan Association of Austria.

He said that he was glad to join in the event, despite not being an overseas Chinese. The Austrian national also expressed hope that the association could become a platform and bridge for communication between Austria and Hainan, as well as enhance cooperation between the two regions in tourism, education, and culture. 

The Hainan Association of Austria was founded on Oct 11 this year and has 30 members to date. It has been committed to organizing and conducting all-round and multi-level exchanges and cooperation in the economic, trade, scientific and technological, educational, cultural, as well as sports fields between Austria and Hainan province. 

Trappl has been a frequent visitor of China and Hainan since he came to China to learn Chinese in 1974.

The population of Austria is similar in size to that of Hainan, and Salzburg in Austria is a sister region of Hainan, according to Trappl, noting that the two regions both focus on tourism in its economic development and should team up for a better future.  

Richard Trappl, dean of the Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna and head of the Hainan Association of Austria. [Photo/chinanews.com]