China is to mark the 96th birthday of Qian Xuesen for his spirit
of patriotism and outstanding contribution to the development of
the country's nuclear and space industries.
Science and Technology Daily, the official publication of the
Ministry of Science and Technology, will host a workshop next
Monday urging people to learn from Qian Xuesen's example in his
innovative thought in research and his fostering of leading
scientists in the field of science and technology.
Qian Xuesen wished the workshop success and said that the
fostering of leading scientists is a primary issue, according to
his secretary Tu Yuanji.
When Premier Wen Jiabao visited Qian at his home on July 29,
2005 and August 3, 2007, the latter made proposals on the fostering
of leading scientists.
Qian also told the government leader: "To successfully handle
the relationship between science and art will help the Chinese to
be innovative and to beat foreigners in competition."
Qian is member of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the
Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Qian 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 9, 2007)