On this day, 70 years ago, on October 26, 1955 (September 11, 1955 in the lunar calendar), Austria declared permanent neutrality. In 1945, Austria was occupied as a defeated country by the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain and France. On May 15, 1955, the Foreign Ministers of the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, and France and Austria signed the "National Treaty on the Re-establishment of an Independent and Democratic Austria" in Vienna, confirming Austria's re-independence and stipulating relevant post-war issues. According to the treaty, on October 25, 1955, the four occupying forces withdrew from Austria. On October 26, the Austrian National Council declared Austria's permanent neutrality, would not participate in any military group, and would not allow other countries to establish military bases on its territory. The Soviet Union, the United States, Britain and France issued a statement on the same day, recognizing Austria's neutrality.