VIENNA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- As protectionism in the United States is on the rise, the European Union (EU) could turn to enhance economic cooperation with other countries, such as China, an Austrian official has said.

Although Washington used to be the driving force behind international economic arrangements, it now appears to be shifting in the opposite direction, Vice President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Christoph Matznetter told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday.

The United States is withdrawing from an open market, which is not in its best interests, Matznetter said.

In the past several decades, China has achieved remarkable economic development and has become the second largest economy in the world. Beijing has also sent a clear signal that it will put growth quality and efficiency before pace as it enters a new development era.

The EU and China should look for closer cooperation without "disruptive" factors from the outside, such as Washington's wrong approach to trade, Matznetter said.

Matznetter attended the high-level meeting Communist Party of China in Dialogue with World Political Parties last December in Beijing.

He said Chinese President Xi Jinping voiced support for free trade and cooperation instead of protectionism and isolation.

"It was clear in certain respects that China is the better partner in many things than some others who focus on a divided world," he said.

Matznetter said Austria is preparing to send a large high-level delegation that includes himself to China in April.

He said the visit is important because it will help gather consensus in Austria and the EU at large in promoting relations with China.

Austria, with an economy heavily relying on exports, is among the countries that prefer to build closer cooperation with China, he said.

Austria and China share common values and face similar challenges in developing new technologies, which lays the ground for cooperation, he added.