China Focus: Foreign academicians bring global perspective to Chinese scientists

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Foreign academicians elected to China's top think tanks have pledged to bring world-class excellence to Chinese institutions and research.

"If I can contribute to produce world leading young Chinese researchers with global perspectives, it is my great pleasure," said Japanese wind engineer Professor Yukio Tamura in an email interview with Xinhua.

British medical scientist Professor Nicholas Robert Lemoine expressed his determination in developing a medical academy in China, which he co-founded, into a research center known worldwide.

Both professors were among 18 new foreign academicians elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) Monday, including Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, Dame Ann Dowling, president of the London-based Royal Academy of Engineering and Leo Rafael Reif, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The number of foreign academicians elected this year is the highest ever, which is intended to bring more international cooperation and improve China's reputation worldwide, according to the CAE.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) also announced its list of 16newly-elected foreign academicians Tuesday, including the two Nobel laureates Andre K. Geim and James Fraser Stoddart.The 16 foreign scientists come from eight countries.

CAS said the academy paid special attention to scientists from Belt and Road countries this year.

As China's top two think tanks to advise the government and industry in science and technology, the CAE now has 66 foreign academicians, and CAS has 92. Membership is China's highest title in engineering and science, and a lifelong honor.

Most of the foreign academicians are frequent travelers to China and have cooperated with Chinese peers for a long time before being elected.

Tamura works for the School of Civil Engineering of Chongqing University, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. He cooperates with Chinese colleagues and often with young Chinese researchers and PhD students in the field of wind engineering.

Lemoine, a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in the United Kingdom,, established the first Sino-British Research Centre for molecular oncology with Professor Wang Yaohe at Zhengzhou University in central China's Henan Province in 2006.

Bill Gates was elected for his work as the founder and chairman of TerraPower, a leading nuclear innovation company, which has cooperated with the Chinese nuclear industry for many years.

"Foreign academicians not only must have acquired a good reputation and academic excellence globally, but must have made a great contribution to Chinese scientific and technological development," according to the regulations of both academies.

Lemoine told Xinhua that being elected as an academician helped to reinforce his commitment and determination to achieve his aspirations and to make a real impact on major health problems in China.

Tamura promised to "disseminate all my know-how, developed by long and deep experience cooperating with many world eminent researchers and professors, to young Chinese talent." Enditem