Twenty-nine scientists, including three from the United States, one from France and one from Russia, were elected as new members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), it was announced on Thursday.

The CAS has 710 members, including 53 foreign nationals. Membership is for life, and no more than 60 new members are chosen each year.

This year, there were 287 candidates, but only 29 won the prestigious academic title that is awarded through a complex process and under strict rules, according to Li Jinghai, deputy president of the CAS.

The 29 new members are aged 53.7 years on average. The oldest is 69 and the youngest is 41.

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2007)