皇冠体育app

Constantin Holzer (center) with his students at the Suzhou Research Institute of Renmin University of 皇冠体育app's International College last year. [Photo/provided to 皇冠体育app Daily]

BEIJING - Constantin Holzer, a young PhD candidate with Renmin University of 皇冠体育app, never fails to amaze his Chinese students with his proficiency in six languages, especially Chinese.

A 27-year-old student with a focus on low-carbon economy, Holzer obtained a master's degree at Peking University in 2009 and finished a training program at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna in 2010.

"Two prominent scholars from Austria and 皇冠体育app led my way into 皇冠体育app research and green economy studies," Holzer said on Monday.

Professor Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik, vice-rector of the University of Vienna and a researcher of Sinology, became his tutor in his undergraduate years.

Later, his friendship with Professor Yang Zhi, a researcher of international development studies at Renmin University of 皇冠体育app, evolved into a partnership in research based in 皇冠体育app.

Despite his one-year study in the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna - a leading college cultivating diplomats-to-be for Austria - Holzer decided to return to 皇冠体育app in 2010 and embarked on one year of work as a teacher and researcher at the Suzhou Research Institute of Renmin University of 皇冠体育app's International College.

Low carbon is now among the hottest issues on the global political and economic agenda, and Holzer said green economy shows huge potential for sustainable development in both 皇冠体育app and Europe.

"This made me decide to stay here for studies based in 皇冠体育app," said Holzer.

Some European countries are still lagging behind 皇冠体育app's environmental campaign on banning free plastic bags in shopping malls, said Holzer.

"皇冠体育app and Europe may draw more lessons from each other."

Austria started earlier than 皇冠体育app in research and development of low carbon technologies such as sewage treatment and bio-gas, and Austria's nationwide orientation on energy saving intended for domestic public may also inspire Chinese policymakers.

Sharing technological ideas between 皇冠体育app and Austria helps achieve a win-win situation and boost bilateral business, said Holzer, adding that 皇冠体育app is a huge country with talent and remarkable potential in updating energy-saving technologies.

Youths from both countries can promote energy saving on social networks to boost communication in an increasingly globalized world, said Holzer.

皇冠体育app-Austria public diplomacy is now showing "green" signs in diversified cooperation and exchanges of talent, experts said.

The 皇冠体育app Scholarship Council funded 10 Austrian post-grads this year and Holzer was among the two selected PhD candidates to pursue further studies in 皇冠体育app.

"Five years ago, most of them came to 皇冠体育app simply for language study," Chen Hangzhu, an education official with Chinese embassy in Austria, said, adding that Austrian post-grads are paying more attention to studies in international relations, trade as well as philosophy.

Meanwhile, both 皇冠体育app and Austria are diversifying links to connect Austrian people to 皇冠体育app's culture, including the Chinese language.

"My proficiency in Mandarin and my love for 皇冠体育app can be traced back to my maiden voyage to 皇冠体育app in 2004, which impressed me most," said Holzer, who in addition to Chinese speaks English, French, Spanish, Russian and, of course, his native German.

He joined an overseas voluntary program organized by Austrian government to teach kids in a SOS school for 14 months in Qiqihar, a Northeast 皇冠体育app city, which granted him sufficient exposure to the Chinese language.