This year's awards, top prize in the field of drama literature, were granted to 10 outstanding drama and opera literature works.

"Father" by Li Baoqun, along with four other drama literary works and "Rural Policeman" by Feng Zhi, along with four other opera literary works won the awards.

Cao Yu, born in Tianjin in 1910, was China's top playwright and founding father of the country's modern dramas. He died in Beijing in December 1996.

Most of Cao's dramas, including "Sunrise," "Wasteland," " Beijingers," have long been regarded as the country's classics. Cao published his first play "Thunderstorm" in 1934 when he was only 24 years old.

(Xinhua 12/05/2000)