On the afternoon of January 26, just before the Lunar New Year, Premier LI Qiang of the State Council hosted a symposium at the Great Hall of the People with representatives of foreign experts who had received the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award, as well as those working in China. Vice Premier DING Xuexiang also attended. Among the invitees was Academician Carlos Guedes Soares, visiting professor at Harbin Engineering University (HEU) and recipient of the award.

Premier LI Qiang conveyed his New Year greetings and expressed sincere thanks to the foreign experts for their continued support of China’s modernization efforts. He also listened carefully to their opinions and suggestions on China’s reform, development, and governance. The experts discussed topics including technological innovation, economic and trade cooperation, cultural exchanges, international communication, and talent development.

Academician Carlos Guedes Soares, visiting professor at HEU and recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, is pictured in the first row, sixth from the left.

Carlos Guedes Soares, an academician of the Portuguese Academy of Engineering and a distinguished professor at the University of Lisbon, is also a visiting professor at HEU. He has dedicated many years to fostering exchanges and cooperation between China and the global maritime academic community. Notably, he led the establishment of the Sino-Portuguese International Joint Laboratory for Ship and Ocean Engineering Technology, under the Ministry of Education, contributing significantly to Sino-foreign scientific collaboration and talent development. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2024.