Chinese students studying in UK honored

Chinese Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming (front, center) joins award winners and their teachers at a photo session in London on May 19, 2016. [Photo by Liu Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Thirty-one Chinese students studying in the United Kingdom were given awards by the Chinese government to recognize their outstanding academic achievements on Thursday.

The ceremony for the 2015 National Award for Outstanding Self-financed Chinese Students Studying Overseas was held at the Chinese Embassy in London.

On behalf of the embassy, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming congratulated the winners and also expressed gratitude towards their teachers in the UK.

During his speech, Liu called on those honored to cherish their opportunity to study in the UK and study hard to realize their dreams and make a contribution to China's development.

"This is not only an award or a financial support, but also a glorious honor from our homeland," said one of the winners, Lu Yao, who is a third-year PhD student at the University College London.

Established in 2003 by China's Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance, the award is set up to honor overseas Chinese students with outstanding academic accomplishments. To be eligible for the award, a student must be studying for a PhD degree, be under the age of 40 and be paying for his or her own education.

Majoring in Chemistry, Lu, together with his supervisors and colleagues, has developed a paint that can be treated on almost any solid substrates to make extremely robust super hydrophobic surfaces. The findings were published in the journal Science last year and covered by more than 200 media globally.

"I wish I could be a bridge of research between China and the UK, and enhance communications and collaborations between China and the West," Lu said.

David Cowan, a professor from King's College London, said his award-winning student, Yaoyao Wang, is intelligent, hardworking, enthusiastic pupil, quick to understand like many other Chinese students.

"We very much value the quality of Chinese students coming to UK," he said. "And in terms of tuition fee income, China is the largest market for King's College London. It's very important for us both intellectually and financially."

Since its establishment, the award has honored more than 4,900 Chinese students studying overseas. The winners will receive a scholarship of $ 6,000.