AIT confers H.E. Prof. Xu Guanhua
Doctor of Technology (honoris causa)
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on 15 May 2005 conferred the degree of
Doctor of Technology (honoris causa) to His Excellency Professor Xu Guanhua,
Minister of Science and Technology, People's Republic of China. The honorary degree was conferred by Prof. Mario T. Tabucanon, AIT Acting President and Provost to H.E. Prof. Xu in a ceremony held in Beijing.
H.E. Prof. Xu Guanhua, is recognized for his key role in advancing the relations
between AIT and the People's Republic of China (PRC), first in his capacity as Vice
President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, through provision of experts to
the Institute in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between AIT and
the State Science and Technology Commission, and later in his capacity as Vice
Minister of the Commission in 1995, which was subsequently changed to the
Ministry of Science and Technology in 1998, and during his current appointment
as the Minister of Science and Technology since 2001.
Under the leadership of Prof. Xu, the PRC has extended the partnership of the Ministry
of Science and Technology to various science and technology institutions in China and in the region. Through the Ministry of Science and Technology, the PRC has engaged in science and technology exchange with 152 countries and signed governmental cooperation agreements in science and technology with 96 countries.
During his ministerial term, which began April 2001, Prof. Xu has been earnestly promoting China's scientific and technological development and improving its international competitiveness by increasing R&D; input, accelerating the building of the national innovation system and formulating a national strategy for the development of science and technology.
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