Shiing-shen chern, honorary chairman of the upcoming 2002 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), has donated 200,000 yuan (US$24,100) to the congress.
Hou Zixin, vice-chairman of the Chinese Mathematical Society and head of the 2002 ICM fundraising committee, said Monday that it was so far the largest individual donation to the ICM.
Chern, 92, a world-famous Chinese-American mathematician, has always paid great attention to the development of mathematical science in China, Hou said.
In a meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in 1993, Chern suggested holding an ICM in China at the end of the 20th century or at the beginning of 21st century.
The Chinese government took up his suggestion and Beijing won the bid to host this year's meeting at the 1998 ICM held in Berlin, capital of Germany.
Hou said the organizing committee the coming ICM had received donations from nearly 100 units and individuals, which shows the public's support for the meeting, scheduled for August 20-28 in Beijing.
Since 1900, the ICM has convened every four years.
(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2002)
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