Ten individuals from various walks of life won China's national honorary titles on Sunday for their great contributions to the country's development.
The national honorary titles, China's highest state honors that include "the People's Scientist," "the People's Artist," "the People's Craftsman" and "the People's Educator," were granted to these prominent figures at a ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and two of them were posthumous awardees.
The title of "People's Scientist" was awarded posthumously to Wang Xiaomo, a renowned radar expert and pioneer in the development of China's early warning aircraft. His groundbreaking contributions to radar technology played a crucial role in enhancing national security and advancing military capabilities. In recognition of his exceptional achievements, Wang won the country's top science award in 2013.
Zhao Zhongxian, a physicist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was awarded the title of "People's Scientist" for his outstanding contributions to high-temperature superconductivity research over the past 40 years. He also received the nation's top science award in 2016.
Bayika Kalidibek, a veteran border patrolman of the Tajik ethnic group in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was awarded the title of "People's Guard." Since 1972 when he was 20 and took over the border patrol guide service from his father, Bayika had performed more than 700 border patrols, each of which may last several days or several weeks.
In 2004, Bayika passed on the role to his son Laqini Bayika who had grown up listening to his father's awestruck tales about his grandfather, prompting him to dream of being a patrol guide himself. Unfortunately, the young man died while saving a boy from drowning in a frozen lake at the age of 41 when taking part in a training course in Kashgar City on Jan 4, 2021.
The title of "People's Artist" was conferred on actress Tian Hua, whose portrayal of iconic female characters in early Chinese cinema has left a lasting impact on the industry. Her performances have not only demonstrated her exceptional talent but also reflected the evolving role of women in society.
Xu Zhenchao, an accomplished technician recognized for advancements in container handling technology, was awarded the title of "People's Craftsman." His innovative approaches have significantly improved the efficiency of container operations in Qingdao Port, playing a crucial role in the modernization of China's shipping and logistics sectors.
Zhang Jinfan, a prominent jurist and legal educator on China's legal history, and Huang Danian, a late distinguished strategic scientist and geophysicist, were granted the title of "People's Educator."
With diligence and academic enthusiasm, Zhang, 94, has not yet retired from teaching, and his expertise and dedication to the teaching has made great contributions to the cultivation of legal talent.
Huang returned to China in 2009 after studying and working in Britain for 18 years. Over the ensuing seven years, he helped China to fill in many technical blanks, transforming the nation into one of the world's leaders in developing deep earth exploration equipment. He passed away in early 2017 at the age of 58.
The title of "People's Health Worker" was conferred on Lu Shengmei, a doctor with a longstanding commitment to improving healthcare in less-developed regions, especially in promoting safer childbirth practices and reducing infant mortality. Although she retired from a county-level hospital in arid northwest China in 1999, Lu has continued to provide treatment for local people free of charge thus now, alleviating their suffering and significantly enhancing the healthcare services at the grassroots level.
Zhang Zhuoyuan, an influential economist with significant contributions to market economy research, was honored with the title of "Outstanding Contributor to Economic Research." He, 91, has devoted over seven decades to the profound study of the market economy, making exceptional theoretical contributions to the reform of the country's economic system.
Zhang Xielin, a celebrated table tennis player and coach, was awarded the title of "Outstanding Contributor to Sports." Zhang is a witness of the historic "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" that helped thaw relations between China and the United States in the early 1970s.
10 prominent individuals awarded national honorary titles for contributions to China's development
