An Afternoon at the Chinese Embassy in Vienna
In July 2021, I received an unexpected invitation to the summer gathering at the residence of Li Xiaosi, then China’s ambassador to Austria, near Schönbrunn Palace. Because of the pandemic, fewer guests were expected. I soon learned why I had been invited: the Austrian-Chinese Society (ÖGCF) was recognising my contribution to relations between Austria and China.
It was a modest honour, but it meant something to me, especially because the certificate was presented by former Federal President Dr. Heinz Fischer. Dated 13 July 2021, it bears the signatures of Heinz Fischer, Helmut Sohmen and Sebastian Kurz, who was Federal Chancellor at the time.
I had first met Hong Kong businessman Helmut Sohmen more than twenty years earlier and had been impressed by his ideas and plans. By the time of this gathering, I had known Heinz Fischer for thirty-eight years. When he was Minister for Science and Research, he was kind enough to open a large exhibition of my work.
The older photograph makes quite a contrast with the one from the summer gathering. Much has changed between the two images, but they also bring a long connection into view.
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