Austria honors Wu Jiatong for building cultural bridges

"This is a monumental day in my career, which started from helping my father some 30 years ago. I gave up my major in engineering and devoted myself to art out of my love for music and art and the ambition to enhance mutual understanding between the people of the two countries," Wu said at the event.

"I've known Wu Jiatong for almost 20 years. I have had the honor and pleasure to present the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art to him. It is a small token of our appreciation for his great efforts in building bridges between Austria and China, connecting our people – in particular in the field of culture and the arts - and deepening and strengthening the ties between our two countries," said Friedrich Stift, Austrian ambassador to China.

"The coronavirus pandemic makes life and work difficult for everybody, especially in the field of culture. Many concerts had to be canceled. Wu Promotion did not stop working. It is already preparing for the time after the pandemic. I would like to thank Jiatong for what he has done to promote Austrian classical music in China and for introducing Chinese music in Austria and Europe as well as bringing excellent Chinese orchestras to Europe," added Stift.

This year celebrates 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and Austria. The ambassador said the cooperation between the two countries has strengthened and expanded in the past 50 years in the fields of politics, commerce, culture, science and technology, and winter sports.