Quantum communication, the application of quantum entanglement, is the most cutting-edge communication mean, which is considered as profoundly meaningful to state and financial security. In other words, it’s a never-failing postman – always secure, and eavesdropping-proof. However, the quantum entanglement once was known as the Ghost of Einstein, for its violation with the theory of special relativity. On Oct 22nd, scientists and politicians from Austria were invited to USTC Shanghai Institute for Advanced Studies for a visit and future cooperation, endeavoring to hire the ghost as the most loyal postman mankind may ever have.
The Austria guests were led by Reinhold Mitterlehner, Vice Chancellor of Austria and federal minister of economy and scienceof Austria, Anton Zeilinger, President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. HOU Jianguo, President of USTC, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and PAN Jianwei, Vice President of USTC and also the leading scientist in quantum information worldwide, sent their warmest welcome to the guests coming from afar, introduced the operation state of the Shanghai Institute, and the background and prospect of the China-Austria intercontinental cooperation in the quantum information. 

Just after the welcome ceremony, Professor Zeilinger led the Austrian scientist delegation to visit the quantum communication facilities developed by Shanghai Institute. Moreover, Professor conducted the first trial connection of the cooperation project, together with colleagues in the Shanghai Institute. “This is the first intercontinental quantum key distribution in the world, departing from China, and arriving in Austria.” Professor Zeilinger illustrated. For the pioneering conceptual and experimental contributions to the foundations of quantum physics, Professor Zeilinger received the Inaugural Isaac Newton Medal of the Institute of Physics (UK) in 2008. In particular, he pointed out the leading position possessed by the research team of PAN Jianwei in the international quantum communication community, especially the experiments research in free-space quantum communication. The collaboration in the intercontinental quantum key distribution leading by scientists from USTC, University of Vienna and Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of Austrian would broaden the applied range of quantum scientific satellite of China, and as a result, casting a new light on the application of quantum communication. In addition, much more extensive scientific communication and cooperation between China and Austria, even China and Europe would be stimulated spontaneously by the intimate interact in this project. 

Regina Figl, the minister of the Austrian Embassy in China, Silvia Neureiter, the consul general of the Austrian Embassy in China attended the visit as well. In the afternoon, Professor Zeilinger also gave a lecture Frontiers of Quantum Entanglement and the Role of Information at the invitation of the QIQP Micius Colloquium of Shanghai Institute. 

This alliance between giants in quantum communication from China and Austria, may send out the first employment contract, being hired as the most reliable postman, to the quantum ghost in the near future.

(QIU Zengwei, USTC News Center)