Feb 19, 2001: China hands out 1st National Science and Technology Awards

On Feb 19, 2001,?the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council?hold the awarding ceremony of the first State Science and Technology Awards in Beijing.

Then-President Jiang Zemin presented the?State Supreme Science and Technology Award of China, China's top science award, for 2000 to mathematician?Wu Wenjun and hybrid-rice expert Yuan Longping.?

Since then, the?awards have been given?annually.