Lu Yongxiang Present at IAC Council Meeting

The InterAcademy Council (IAC) annual meeting was held from March 26 to 28, in Halle, Germany. Lu Yongxiang, Co-chair of IAC and CAS former president attended and chaired the meeting. There were all together 40 or more people, including IAC council members, specially invited representatives and observers attended the meeting.

CAS to Strengthen Ties with Canada

Bai Chunli Attends Tel-conferences for Global Research Council Leaders

On Feb. 15 and April 18, the Global Research Council held two tel-conferences separately, which were all sponsored by the US National Science Foundation (NSF). Bai Chunli, President of CAS and member of the GRC steering committee, attended both meetings. The principle statement on science quality appraisal, the GRC future development and other issues were discussed at the first meeting, while at the later, Bai explained his thought on major mission of the GRC future development and hoped that GRC shall contribute vigorously to promote South-North S&T cooperation. Guests attended the conference include leaders from the Brazilian National S&T Development Committee, Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), South African National Research Foundation (NRF), Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST), German National Science Foundation (DFG), European Science Foundation (ESF) and European Research Council (ERC), etc.

Bai Chunli Visits France

On March 13, Bai Chunli, President of CAS headed a delegation to visit France. Bai, as Vice President of the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), attended the Presidents Working Conference on March 14, in which the preparation for TWAS's 23rd General Meeting and 12th General Conference to be held in Tianjin, China, organization of TWAS Council, issues concerned with election of academicians and winners for relevant awards, etc. were discussed in depth. From March 15 on, the delegation consecutively visited the French Academy of Agriculture, CNRS，French Academy of Sciences (FAS) and Agence Nationale de Recherche ( ANR). Discussions were held with leaders of these institutions aimed to promote the exiting cooperation. During his visit to the French Academy of Sciences, Bai held talks with Prof. Catherine Brechignac, Permanent Secretary of FAS, which were focused on the relevant measures of cooperation and exchange, and awarding mechanism for encouraging the cooperation.

Li Jinghai Meets French Guests

On Feb. 22, Li Jinhai, Vice President of CAS, met with Prof. Catherine Bréchignac, Permanent Secretary of the French Academy of Sciences and Special Envoy for S&T Innovation, and Prof. Francois Guinot, Honorary President of French Academy of Engineering. Both sides exchanged views on major global scientific issues, and reached consensus on the key projects in fields of science education, science of complexity and clean energy, including nuclear energy, etc.

Zhan Wenlong Visits Germany

On Feb. 27, Zhan Wenlong, Vice President of CAS, and his entourage visited the Max-Plank Institute for Radio Astronomy, and the Effelsberg Astronomical Observatory in suburban Bonn. Zhan had a sound discussion with Prof. Wielebinski on the scientific prospect of the establishment of large radio telescopes in China and the world as well.

Zhang Yaping Meets BASF Guests

On April 1, Zhang Yaping, Vice President of CAS met with Dr. Friedrich Seitz，the visiting President of R&D Department of the BASF Chemical Company and his entourage. Zhang briefed guests about the cooperation of CAS with trans-national corporations, and hoped that the cooperation between CAS and BASF will be continuously strengthened. Dr. Seits confirmed that BASF will establish a new R&D center in Shanghai, and wished to cooperate with more partners in China.

Qiu Juliang Granted French National Legion of Honour

Recently, Prof. Qiu Juliang, former associate director general of the Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS and currently first secretary of the Chinese Embassy to France was granted French National Legion of Honor Chevalier（Knight）. On April 2, Prof. Jacques Gang of the French National Medical Academy of Sciences, on behalf of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, awarded him the medal, in recognition of his contribution to French-Chinese scientific and technological cooperation. The French National Legion of Honour is the highest honor Knights Medal (Chivalric the order) established by Napoleon in1802.