The Chinese Academy of Engineering will select 60 new academicians this year, an academy spokesperson announced on Friday.

 

This is the seventh time the academy, which currently has a roll of 701, has taken on new members since it was founded in 1994.

 

To be accepted, candidates must now win the votes of more than two thirds of current members. Previously, half the votes were enough.

 

The stricter rule means that candidates must be recognized more widely by senior academicians, said Xu Rigan, deputy head of the academy.

 

Moral character will be a key criterion in this year's selection, said Pan Yunhe, another deputy head.

 

The period during which candidate information is made available for public scrutiny will be extended from two weeks to a month, and the academy will listen to any complaints or objections.

 

The results of the selection process will not be announced until December 2007.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2007)