Four foreign scientists were honored in Beijing Monday for their outstanding contributions to scientific development in China.

Nobert Angert of Germany, Joseph H. Hamilton and Yunzhen Cao of the United States and Toshisuke Hirano of Japan were each presented with the International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award by vice-minister of science and technology Cheng Jinpei.

Cao, an AIDS researcher, has been active in linking Chinese and American scientists to fight the deadly disease. He also pioneered experiments aimed at preventing the transference of HIV from mother to fetus during pregnancy, and has conducted numerous courses in China for specialized anti-AIDS training.

Angert has been devoted to the technological upgrading of heavy ion accelerators since 1980. His efforts have helped train a great number of specialized workers in China and completed relevant engineering projects.

Thanks to the collaboration of Hamilton over the past 30 years, Chinese scientists have made technological breakthroughs in nuclear studies and published 200 academic papers at major international seminars.

Hirano, an expert on combustion science and fire disaster safety, has been engaged in helping Chinese scientists establish major laboratories and applying the science of fire disaster safety.

Vice-minister of science and technology Cheng said China is drafting a long-term scientific blueprint for the next 20 years to help create a favorable climate for technological innovation.

"We encourage domestic and foreign scientists to jointly conduct scientific research to make technological breakthroughs for the whole world,'' said Cheng.

China's International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award was founded in 1994 by the State Council. It has honoured 35 foreign scientists to date.

In another development, the Ministry of Science and Technology has published 20 authorized non-governmental scientific awarding organizations, to avoid inconsistent and duplicated awarding institutions. The names of the organizations awards have been posted on the ministry's website at http://www.most.gov.cn/English/index.htm.

(China Daily September 23, 2003)