Unlike most young men facing difficult career choices, Hans Dietmar
Schweisgut could take comfort in the knowledge that his studies in law had
provided him with a range of options.
Austrian ambassador Hans Dietmar
Schweisgut. [Photo By Zhang Wei] |
"I didn't
have a clear idea of what I wanted to do, but law gives you a good basis,"
recalls Dr Schweisgut, who hails from Zams, a small Austrian town west of
Innsbruck.
He's come a long way since his days in Tyrol, but perhaps it is Zams'
reputation as a key location for small- and mid-sized enterprises that helped
shape the business-oriented interests of the Ambassador of Austria to China.
"A diplomatic career is part accident and part choice. Mine was a happy
accident, but later became a conscious decision to head in a specific direction.
I chose China when I was Ambassador to Japan. After eight years there, I
developed a strong interest in China. Looking at it from the outside was
fascinating," he says.
"You choose areas you'd like to focus on. Without overstating the role of an
ambassador, you can deviate from the more traditional image of the career
diplomat and in small ways influence how your country is perceived by others."
The traditional role of which he speaks is largely based on misguided public
perceptions of the diplomatic service. And while there is some truth to the
stereotypes, he sees them as a simplification.
"The role of the diplomat has changed over the years. Part of the stereotype
is that you have to be a good negotiator and communicator, but there are many
other considerations to keep in mind. It's not easy to define the work we do."
In the context of promoting Austrian interests abroad, it's obviously
important to have a solid foundation in European affairs.
"It helps to be able to articulate to others what Europe is about," he
admits, but his interests extend beyond the scope of politics.
"I think my background has definitely put me in touch with the business
community. You use political dialogue to push an agenda, a European agenda, a
strategic partnership with China. We're working with China on security concerns,
but business is also important."
As many as 60 Austrian companies have established a presence in China, with
roughly 240 subsidiaries or representative offices throughout the country, many
of which run production facilities on the mainland.
Yet despite his flair for business, the multilingual ambassador has struggled
with the language.
"I could make more of an effort with the Chinese language," he admits
sheepishly. "But it's great when a shopkeeper understands you."
These personal connections with the people of Beijing have made his
experiences in China worthwhile.
"Beijing preserves a certain charm. You sense the history in the monuments,
but it is all still on a livable scale, despite its vastness," he says.
"It is also well on its way to becoming a modern metropolis, so you have this
tension there. But I'm not sure if I will like it in 20 years' time."
Schweisgut echoes a common lament among veteran Beijing expats, who decry the
loss of some of the city's more charming neighbourhoods to commercial
developments.
"While I agree Beijing needs to transform, many parts are being destroyed.
I'm not so sure there is vision behind this. The Olympic deadline must be met,
but sometimes this fast development has its drawbacks," he says.
"Beijing is a work in progress. I hope those differences remain once the
process has been completed."
Comfortable city
Food is one aspect of Beijing life that thankfully will never succumb to the
bulldozer, however. Schweisgut counts jiaozi and dishes from other regions, such
as Sichuan-style dan dan mian noodles, among his favourites.
He is also pleased with the local restaurant scene. He quickly rattles off a
long list of his favourite haunts, including the Beijing Dadong Roast Duck
Restaurant on the capital's East Third Ring Road, and Heping Yiyuan, which he
describes as a kind of teahouse, art gallery and restaurant rolled into one.
"There are more international restaurants popping up, too. There is a new
caf¨¦ in Dashanzi, Pause," adds Schweisgut, referring to a Viennese coffee house
that opened in the city's celebrated 798 Art District last November.
Austrian expatriate Johannes Neubacher, who owns the caf¨¦ with a German
partner, plans to hold tastings of Austrian and German wines twice a month from
this month.
Neubacher says he and his partner opened Caf¨¦ Pause to fill a niche that has
long been missing in the Beijing expat scene. Schweisgut agrees, but says there
is little from his homeland that he misses.
"You can easily get things in Beijing," the ambassador notes.
"And our cook has been with the embassy for years. His Apfelstrudel is quite
good."
The availability of Austrian food is somewhat surprising, given that there
are only about 300 Austrians in Beijing's expat community.
"I think it's important to create a sense of community," Schweisgut says.
A modern image
Perhaps it is this sense of community that has drawn his attention to the
thriving art scene in Dashanzi. His interests in art have led to his involvement
in a joint exhibit featuring Chinese artist Yang Shaobin and Austrian Viennese
Actionism proponent Hermann Nitsch, whose multimedia exhibit is a disturbing and
provocative blend of ritualistic imagery, male nudity, blood and slaughtered
farm animals. The programme is running at White Space Beijing in the 798
District until June 11.
"We're trying to focus on pairing artists, to see to what extent their work
contrasts with or complements each other," Schweisgut says.
These cultural exchanges highlight the mutual interests of Austria and China,
and help clarify clich¨¦d perceptions of the European nation that arise from pop
culture exports such as the "Sound of Music".
"I'm happy with that image. It's kitschy and romanticized, but in a business
sense, I'd prefer to have a positive image - even if it's inaccurate - rather
than no image at all," Schweisgut says.
"I see our job as building on this image. It's about communicating that yes,
this is Austria, but we are also a modern European nation."
It seems to be working. Austria was included in a 2004 agreement granting 12
EU member states Approved Destination Status (ADS). The pact has paved the way
for Chinese group tourists to visit Europe. Approximately 180,000 Chinese
tourists visited Austria last year.
"It's small by Austrian terms, but it's not to be ignored."
Other projects promote mutual understanding, including events on Mozart,
novelist Thomas Bernhard, and a symposium on Freud next month with Peking
University.
Schweisgut values the opportunity to travel throughout China, and he has
already been to 20 provinces. He also enjoys travelling throughout rural parts
of Beijing municipality, where he likes to play golf and visit cultural gems
such as Hong Luo Si Temple near Huairou.
Ultimately, these travel experiences provide a chance to connect with local
people.
"It's important not to just live in the foreign community. Learn Chinese, and
try to get a sense of real life in Beijing," he suggests.
The ambassador is open to any opportunities the future might hold.
"China's rise is one of the great adventures of the worldˇ I've now had two
postings that I really wanted (China and Japan). I would say that after two
dream postings, you have to be more modest."
Austrian ambassador Hans Dietmar Schweisgut thinks the perception of Austria
brought by the "Sound of Music" kitschy and romanticized, and is trying to build
his country an image of a modern European nation.
I've now had two postings that I really wanted (China and Japan). I would say
that after two dream postings, you have to be more modest.
