Qian Xuesen, China's leading pioneer in nuclear and space
science, was hailed for his contributions to the development of
China's nuclear and space industries at a seminar in his honor on
Monday.
The workshop, with the theme "Learning from Qian's example in
his innovative thought in research and fostering leading scientists
in science and technology", marked his 96th birthday, to fall on
Tuesday.
Delegates honored his outstanding contribution in fostering
students, and called for carrying forward his spirit of
patriotism.
Qian last week said that fostering leading scientists was a
"primary issue" for the nation's future and should be "properly
handled", said his secretary and academic assistant, Tu Yuanji.
Tu told the seminar that Qian had a "fairly good" health, and
most of the past year he had stayed at home, "reading something
every day while leading a peaceful life".
"The problem that most concerns him is that China is in great
need of leading scientific personnel," Tu said.
Premier Wen Jiabao visited Qian at his home in July
2005 and August this year, and they discussed proposals on
fostering leading scientists.
Qian told Wen, "The successful handling of the relationship
between science and art will help the Chinese to be innovative and
to be more competitive than other nations."
Qian, a member of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the
Chinese Academy of Engineering, graduated from Shanghai
Communications University in 1934.
In 1935, he went to study in the aviation department of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and later studied aviation
engineering at the California Institute of Technology. In 1939, he
received a doctorate in aviation and mathematics.
(Xinhua News Agency, December 11, 2007)