A scientist who revolutionized the Chinese printing and publishing industries has been honored with the largest ever financial award by a Chinese university to an individual.

Peking University Monday conferred an award of five million yuan (about US$620,000 ) to Wang Xuan, winner of the 2001 State Top Sci-Tech Award and a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Wang Xuan, who is known as "the father of Chinese language laser typesetting" was honored for his invention of a system which allowed Chinese characters to be electronically transferred to type.

Peking University also awarded CAS academicians Wu Wenjun and Huang Kun the honorary title of "Peking University Pre-eminent Alumnus". Wu and Huang were also winners of the State Pre-eminent Science and Technology Award, the top state science and technology award in China. Wang Xuan, Wu Wenjun and Huang Kun are alumni of Peking University.

Last month, President Jiang Zemin conferred the State Pre- eminent Science and Technology Award to two scientists -- Wang Xuan and Huang Kun.

Wang Xuan said at the award ceremony: "My dearest wish is to help high-tech products with independent Chinese intellectual property enter developed countries," adding that the publishing system of Peking University Founder Group had already entered Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Wang Xuan was former head of the Institute of Computer Technology attached to Peking University.

(People's Daily March 19, 2002)