55 Years of China-Austria Relations: Vienna Delegation Tests Robots in Wuhan
An Austrian journalist and our editor traveled with a delegation for six days through the central Chinese province of Hubei, taking in humanoid robots, large-scale AI models, and origami workshops.
To mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Austria, a small European delegation traveled through the Chinese province of Hubei from April 18 to 23. Among those on the trip were Austrian media executive and China expert Martin Soros—who, by his own account, has visited China more than 40 times—and Cornelius Granig, publisher of YANUS.
The trip was organized by the newly founded „International Education and Innovation Center,“ an initiative launched in Vienna in March by Professor Jin Shengli of Wuhan in collaboration with Austrian partners.
Robots, AI-Powered Factories, and an Origami Workshop
The stops on the tour read like a „best of“ list of China’s technology agenda: the Innovation Center for Humanoid Robots, a digital creative park, and the Hubei Provincial Museum. The guests experienced autonomous driving, a futuristic magnetic levitation monorail called “Photon,” and 3D light installations viewable without glasses. As a contrast, the program also featured traditional crafts: the delegation folded traditional paper cranes in a workshop dedicated to intangible cultural heritage.
Particular attention was drawn to an AI model developed by Wuhan University of Science and Technology called „Zhurong,“ which, according to the university, was the first in the world to be trained specifically for refractory materials—a niche product in heavy industry—and is designed to simulate complex material calculations in milliseconds. Granig praised this as an example of how AI is enabling traditional industries to embrace the green transition. Service robots in hotels, shuttling back and forth among guests, also left a lasting impression on visitors.
A trial run for future cooperation
According to the organizers, the trip was the first in a planned series of so-called „China trips“ organized by the new center. The goal is to establish a lasting platform for exchange between Chinese and European universities, companies, and young people.
Professor Jin announced that his university would make greater use of its scientific resources in the future for joint research projects and the promotion of young researchers in collaboration with Austria and Europe.
Such initiatives are part of a broader trend: Chinese provincial governments and universities are making targeted investments in „public diplomacy“—informal channels involving science, culture, and education—designed to complement political relations. Hubei, with a population of about 58 million and Wuhan as a hub for heavy industry and robotics, is deliberately positioning itself as a showcase for „high tech meets tradition.“.
What does that mean for Austria?
For domestic companies and research institutions, such contacts are more than just symbolic gestures: In 2023, Austria’s mechanical engineering and robotics sector exported goods worth approximately 2.1 billion euros to China, while Chinese investment in Austria is on the rise, particularly in the fields of electronics and renewable energy. Through such channels, Austrian universities can initiate further cooperation agreements with Chinese universities, similar to those already in place at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) or the Montanuniversität Leoben. Whether the Vienna center will become more than just a study trip featuring an origami workshop remains to be seen, as will be revealed during the next announced trip to China.
No specific date has been announced yet.