[Photo provided to China Daily]

"They were generous to provide us with research results that took them more than 10 years to get," says Ruan Xiangyan, Mueck's Chinese partner at the BOGH.

Mueck says promoting Chinese people's awareness of the technology will be the focus of their collective work in the future.

In September, Mueck received the Friendship Award from the Chinese government for his work. The annual awards are given to foreigners who have made significant contributions to China's social and economic development.

Mueck still excitedly recalls the award ceremony, during which he had a chance to shake hands and speak with Premier Li Keqiang.

Mueck, who is interested in Chinese culture and started learning Chinese two years ago, even prepared an introduction of himself and his job in Chinese on a piece of paper.

"I told the premier in Chinese that it's not only an honor for myself, but the entire hospital (BOGH)," Mueck says.

The award has boosted Mueck's confidence in his work. He now wants to make more contributions to medical development in China. He has also become involved in other forms of cooperation with China.

He has co-authored dozens of scientific papers with Chinese partners in the past few years.