Peking University, Sept. 18, 2019: On September 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a presidential decree to award 42 individuals with a series of awards and honors to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. These awards acknowledge the contributions these individuals have made to China’s development and modernization.
The awardees
A total of six Peking University Alumni were honored with awards. The late Yu Min, a nuclear physicist, and 2015 Nobel Prize winner Tu Youyou who led the discovery of the antimalarial drug artemisinin, were awarded the Medal of the Republic, one of the most prestigious awards in the country. Wu Wenjun, a mathematician, and Gu Fangzhou, a medical researcher, were awarded the honorary title of “The People’s Scientist.” Other honorary titles issued were “The People’s Educator” for Gao Mingxuan, professor of Law, and “Preserver of Cultural Relics” for Fan Jinshi, a famed archaeologist.
Written by: Trevor Atkinson
Edited by: Amanda Hu
