Whistleblower up for award among China's elites
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-03 14:43

China's central bank chief and a farmer who exposed a milk powder scam are among 23 people short-listed as the country's most important figures in 2004.

People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan [newsphoto]

They were nominated in a television quest that drew more than 2,000 nominations from viewers, China Central TV program directors said Thursday.

People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan was selected by 100 CCTV judges to be short-listed for the network's annual China Economic Celebrities award because he had kept the economy in check, despite overheating in some sectors and pressure to revalue the national currency, the directors told a press conference.

The whistleblower, Gao Zheng, was selected by CCTV Channe l2 judges for having exposed the low-grade milk powder scam responsible for the deaths of 12 babies in Anhui Province in March.

CCTV Channe l2, which specializes in economic news, also selected Liao Xiaoyi, director of the Beijing Earth Village Environment and Culture Center, for her energy-saving efforts. She was the only woman among the 2,000 nominees to make the shortlist.

Liao Xiaoyi, the only woman making the shortlist [newsphoto]

Eighteen company executives, including Chinese sports clothier Li Ning and Ma Yun, chairman and administrator of the Alibaba auction Web site, were selected for corporate responsibility, doing something innovative with their companies or finding business success overseas.

CCTV has given these awards for the past five years to feature model businesses for a nation in the middle of profound economic changes.

Initial nominations came in via mobile phone short messages and CCTV's Web site, after which the 100 CCTV judges narrowed the list to 23.

Online voting will resume through Dec. 28, when CCTV will announce the year's top 10 at a televised ceremony, which is normally watched by more than 10 million people.

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