The Ceremony for 2008 International S&T Cooperation Award of P.R.C. was held in Beijing on May 27th, 2009. Laureates are Victor Roy Squires, Australian expert in ecology and dry-land management, Lothar Hans Reh, German expert in energy and chemical engineering, and Scott Douglas Rozelle, American agronomist. State Councilor LIU Yandong conferred the medals and certificates on the laureates at the ceremony.

Minister WAN Gang addressed the ceremony, congratulated the laureates, and thanked them for promoting S&T cooperation between China and foreign countries, and facilitating China’s S&T development. According to WAN, international S&T cooperation enjoys promising prospects as joint efforts are needed to tackle major challenges confronting mankind. The Chinese government would play a more active role in carrying out extensive international S&T cooperation and exchanges.

The laureates spoke highly of the significant S&T progress in China, reviewed the attention and support received from the Chinese government and related agencies over the years, thanked the Chinese government for the honor, and promised to do more for international S&T cooperation and promote friendship. Participants of the event also included family members of laureates and officials from Swiss, Australian and German embassies in China.