The Chinese government Monday bestowed its International Science and Technology Cooperation Award on seven foreign scientists for their contributions to China's science and technology development.

Three scientists from the United States -- Prof. Yuen-Ron Shen, Prof. Vincent Chan and Prof. Britton Chance -- Prof. Arima Akito from Japan, Prof. Agustin Lage Davila from Cuba, Prof. Michel Che from France and Prof. Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker from Germany were honored.

Prof. Yuen-Ron Shen, 74, has engaged in Sino-American science and technology cooperation in a variety of fields since 1972.

The cooperation had dramatically improved the academic status and influence of China in optics and condensed matter physics, said a statement from the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Prof. Vincent Chan, 60, had contributed to the rapid promotion and new discoveries of nuclear fusion in China. Prof. Britton Chance, 96, a former member of the U.S. President's Scientific Advisory Committee, had helped train and cultivated outstanding Chinese scientists, said the statement.

Nuclear physicist Arima Akito, 79, had taken an active part in promoting scientific exchange and cooperation between Japan and China in his position as president of the University of Tokyo and Japanese Minister of Science and Technology over the past three decades, said the statement.

Through the largest-ever Sino-Cuban biomedical cooperation project, biologist Agustin Lage Davila, 60, had helped and guided development of the first humanized monoclonal antibody for cancer treatment in China.

Under the cooperation between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the France National Center for Scientific Research, chemist Michel Che, 68, had contributed to chemical catalyst research in China, said the statement.

Biochemist Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, 68, had put forward a series of innovative ideas and carried out effective measures to promote Sino-German joint research centers and young scientists groups as well as other technology cooperation between the two countries.

The awards were conferred at a ceremony held for China's annual national science and technology awards in the Great Hall of the People.

The International Science and Technology Cooperation Award was launched in 1994 by the State Council. Up to 10 foreign individuals and organizations each year can receive the award.