On September 30th, the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People, where State Councilor CHEN Yiqin presented awards to foreign experts. Academician Carlos Guedes Soares, a guest professor at Harbin Engineering University (HEU), received this prestigious honor, making him the third foreign expert from HEU to be awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award.

HEU Vice President YU Zhiwen accompanied Professor Soares at the ceremony.

The Chinese Government Friendship Award is the highest accolade established by the Chinese government to recognize foreign experts who have made significant contributions to China's modernization and the Reform and Opening-up policy. In 2024, a total of 100 foreign experts received this honor.

Carlos Guedes Soares is an Academician of the Portuguese Academy of Engineering, an Outstanding Professor at the University of Lisbon in Portugal, and a guest professor at Harbin Engineering University.