China is to mark the 96th birthday of Qian Xuesen for his spirit of patriotism and outstanding contribution to the development of the country's nuclear and space industries.

Science and Technology Daily, the official publication of the Ministry of Science and Technology, will host a workshop next Monday urging people to learn from Qian Xuesen's example in his innovative thought in research and his fostering of leading scientists in the field of science and technology.

Qian Xuesen wished the workshop success and said that the fostering of leading scientists is a primary issue, according to his secretary Tu Yuanji.

When Premier Wen Jiabao visited Qian at his home on July 29, 2005 and August 3, 2007, the latter made proposals on the fostering of leading scientists.

Qian also told the government leader: "To successfully handle the relationship between science and art will help the Chinese to be innovative and to beat foreigners in competition."

Qian is member of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Qian graduated from Shanghai Communications University in 1934. In 1935, he went to study in the aviation department of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and later studied aviation engineering at the California Institute of Technology. In 1939, he received a doctorate in aviation and mathematics.

(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2007)