In 1953, Frey obtained Chinese citizenship. "After the war, I could have returned to Austria to further my medical studies. When I visited my family there, they and my friends advised me to stay. I knew that staying in Austria might have made me richer but where could I find the genuine friendship and love I had built during the hard times of the past in China?" Frey said in a documentary.
He returned to work in China, compiling the People's Health Histology, the first monograph on this subject in China, and established the first large-scale medical literature computer retrieval system in the country.
In addition to his medical and scientific work, Frey consistently sought to introduce the new China to the outside world by establishing connections with his homeland, as well as other Western countries, according to Bauer.
"This exhibition reminds us of the close ties between Austria and China forged through the lives and work of individuals like doctor Richard Frey. His story is a symbol of courage, resistance against oppression and the ability to be a bridge between cultures," she says. "Today, as the world faces new challenges, it is more important than ever to learn from the lessons of the past."
Contact the writer at zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn
