Peking University, February 8, 2025: The awards ceremony of the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award was held in Beijing on January 25, 2025, during which Philippe Ciais, a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Visiting Professor at Peking University, and senior researcher at the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, was presented with the Friendship Award.

PKU Visiting Professor Philippe Ciais at the awards ceremony of the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

An expert in Earth system science, specializing in climate change, Professor Ciais has served as the chairman of the Global Carbon Project and the coordinating lead author of the carbon cycle chapter of the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC.

Since 2009, Ciais has been appointed as a visiting professor at Peking University. In 2011, he co-founded the Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, a joint research laboratory, with Academician Piao Shilong, serving as its French director. Recognized as a national-level research center in 2016, the institute has published a series of studies in Nature and assessed China’s contributions to addressing global climate change.

The Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science holding a joint seminar in France

In his award acceptance speech, Professor Ciais noted that the award was made particularly significant by the fact that it took place during the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France in 2024, and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the EU in 2025. He acknowledged the contributions of his fellow foreign experts to China’s progress, including the country’s rapid development in Earth system science, which he has both witnessed and contributed to. Expressing hope for stronger Sino-French collaboration, he advocated for organizing joint seminars and research teams to tackle scientific challenges, and arranging international summer schools to cultivate young talents who will become the backbone of responding to global climate change.

Professor Ciais delivering an acceptance speech at the awards ceremony 

About the Chinese Government Friendship Award:
Established in 1991, the Chinese Government Friendship Award stands as China’s highest honor in recognition of foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to the country’s modernization and its reform and opening-up.

Written by: Leow Kai Lim
Edited by: He Yike
Source: PKU News (Chinese)