Top State award honours scientists (China Daily by Cui Ning) Updated: 2004-02-20 23:31
Two distinguished senior scientists were awarded honours in their
fields Friday from President Hu Jintao Friday in the Great Hall of the People.
Each man received cash prizes of 5 million yuan (US$602,000) from the
National Office for State Science and Technology Award given annually at a
conference that recognizes excellence among the nation's top scientists.
President Hu Jintao
(C) poses with aviation and space scientist Wang Yongzhi (L) and geologist
Liu Dongsheng after awarding them the country's top science and technology
award. [Xinhua]
Winning were geologist Liu Dongsheng and space and aviation scientist Wang
Yongzhi. The two were rewarded for their decades of dedication to China's
development of geological and environmental science and satellite and aircraft
engineering science, respectively.
Wang said his prize reflects the government's high value on scientists' work.
The Supreme State Science and Technology Award -- regarded as "China's Nobel
prize'' by those in the Chinese scientific circle -- was established in 1999 to
honour scientists who make remarkable contributions to the progress of science
and the commercialization of technological findings.
The top honour is bestowed on no more than two individuals each year and the
prize is presented by the president.
Friday, some 2,500 scientists and 670 work units were honoured with different
grades of prizes for their breakthroughs in natural science, technological
inventions and scientific progress in various fields.
The scientific award cover various areas ranging from ancient biology and
geology to information technology and maize with high yields.
At Friday's awarding ceremony, Premier Wen Jiabao expressed his
congratulations to Liu and Wang and other prize winners.
Wen said science and technology must be on the country's top agenda as the
country marches towards the goal of building a wealthy and comfortable life for
its people.
Science and technology is unprecedentedly important to sustainable economic
and social development, and should be based on natural resources-savings , Wen
said.
Chinese scientists can make technological breakthroughs in cutting-edge
scientific fields as long as they persist in seeking innovation. This has been
proven by the successful development of the A-bomb, H-bomb and a satellite and
launching of "Shenzhou-V,'' the premier said.
He encouraged scientists to brave new challenges and breakthroughs.
"The government will go on to increase funds for scientific development and
further reform scientific systems,'' Wen indicated.
Redoubled efforts should be made to propel technological innovations among
enterprises, basic scientific research, applied science and high-technology
development, he said.
The old system of seniority-dominated employment should be totally abandoned,
to generously employ young talented scientists.
Wen emphasized a strategy of further revitalizing the nation through talent,
cultivating powerful research teams, especially talented pioneers in important
scientific fields.
State Councillor Chen Zhili said four foreign scientists have won special
prizes for outstanding contributions to international scientific co-operation.
They are: mathematician Shing-Tung Yau from the United States; agricultural and
economic expert Jweregen Voegele from Germany; medical professor Mizushima
Yutaka from Japan and Archimedes Company president Elio Matacena from
Italy.
