On September 30th, the award ceremony of the 2020 and 2021 Chinese Government Friendship Awards was grandly held in the Great Hall of the People. 

Vice Premier Liu He presented the Award to 100 foreign experts from 32 countries. Premier Li then congratulated the recipients and praised their contributions to China’s reform and opening-up, development and progress as well as friendly exchanges with other countries.

Premier Li also conveyed sincere greetings to all foreign experts working in China, their family members and international friends who support China's development.

Noting the country’s journey to achieve its own development goals, Premier Li said China needs to make better use of the role of innovation as a powerful driving force and the role of talent as fundamental support.

After the meeting, the foreign experts were invited by Premier Li Keqiang to attend the reception for the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The Friendship Award is the highest award to commend foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive. Since its establishment in 1991, 1799 foreign experts have received the award.

Two scholars from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) won the awards for 2020 and 2021 respectively. Professor Tudor Ratiu is one of the 2020 Chinese Government Friendship Award winners. He is an academician of the European Academy of Sciences, the Vice President of the Internationalization Demonstration Academy of School of Mathematical Sciences (SMS), SJTU, and the SMS Chair Professor. Professor Zachary T. Bloomgarden won the 2021 Chinese Government Friendship Award. He is a renowned expert in endocrine metabolic diseases and is currently a clinical professor at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine in New York, USA, in collaboration with Renji Hospital, affiliated with the School of Medicine, SJTU.