A symposium marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tong Dizhou, a renowned Chinese embryologist and educationist, was held in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attended the symposium.

Tong Dizhou was born in Yinxian County, in east China's Zhejiang Province, and received a doctorate of science from a Belgian university in 1930. Tong was the founder of experimental embryology in China.

Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said at the symposium that people should learn from Tong Dizhou, who devoted all his energy to the cause of science and education.

(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2002)