Chinese environmentalist Liu Xiangdong was awarded a gold medal in Paris Wednesday at an award ceremony by Global League of Public Welfare Charity.

Liu Xiangdong (C), chief of Environmental Protection Agency of China's northern Shanxi province, toasts?with others at the backstage of the award ceremony in Paris, October 29, 2008. [CRI]

Liu, chief of Environmental Protection Agency of China's northern Shanxi province, was awarded the gold medal, the highest award of the league, for his contribution to improving local environment.

In the award citation, the league acclaimed Liu as "pioneer of China's environmental protection," saying "his environmental awareness and efficiency have won the unconditional support from the government and ensured that the national policy of environmental protection can be implemented in real earnest."

Since he served as leading official in charge of environmental protection in Shanxi in 2006, Liu has managed to make big headways in tackling environmental pollution and improving local environment through bold innovation.

At the ceremony, Liu said the medal means more than an award for his work as an individual, but the concern and recognition by the international communities for the achievements made by Shanxi province and China as a whole in environmental protection.

Global League of Public Welfare Charity, a non-governmental organization with a long history, regularly grants awards to outstanding figures in the fields of "humanism, knowledge and science."

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2008)