Renowned Chinese neurologist Wang Zhongcheng and chemist Xu Guangxian scooped up China's top award in science and technology, the State Scientific and Technological Awards, in Beijing on January 9.

Wang, 83, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is an experienced neurosurgeon and pioneer scientist in neurosurgery research. Graduating from the Medical School of Peking University in 1950, Wang spearheaded the development of neurosurgery during his tenure as director of the Beijing Neurosurgical Institute from the 1960s. The diagnostic techniques of Chinese neurosurgery were enormously enhanced through the efforts of Wang and his colleagues at that time. He has gained a world reputation in the surgical treatment of cerebral vascular and neurological diseases, particularly in brain stem and spinal cord tumors, since he began his research in the 1980s.

As the first man to perform more than 1,000 cerebral operations with the lowest mortality rate in the world, Wang has been recognized not only for his sublime academic achievements, but also professional ethics.

Xu, 88, a renowned professor of rare earth chemistry (the study of metallic elements of atomic numbers) at Peking University, is a major contributor to advanced extraction and separation technologies of rare earth elements in the country.

Xu graduated from the Chemistry Department of Shanghai Jiaotong University in 1944, and received his doctorate from Colombia University in the United States in 1951. After returning to China, Xu joined the faculty of Peking University and has spent his teaching career there for more than half a century, focusing on chemistry. He founded the Rare Earth Chemistry Research Center in 1986, and co-established a laboratory specializing in chemical analysis and applications of rare earth at Peking University in 1989.

Known as the father of Chinese rare earth chemistry, Xu invented a new theory of countercurrent extraction flow, which can be directly used in extensive industrial sectors.

The State Scientific and Technological Awards were established in 2000 to honor top Chinese scientists. Each of these winners receives a prize of 5 million yuan ($730,000).

Sales Guru Leads Lenovo Reshuffle

Vice President Chen Shaopeng of Lenovo Group has been appointed to lead the company's most profitable unit after the world's fourth largest personal computer maker announced plans to merge its operations in China, the Asia Pacific and Russia to boost efficiency.

Chen, 40, one of Lenovo's senior executives, was former president of the company's Greater China and Russia division. By replacing David D. Miller, who oversaw Lenovo's Asia Pacific section, Chen will take over more than half of the computer giant's entire business.

After graduating from Beijing Technology and Business University with a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, Chen joined Lenovo in 1993. Advancing through numerous leading positions in sales and marketing, before Lenovo won world prominence by acquiring IBM's PC unit in 2005, Chen was appointed vice president of the company.

Chen's client-oriented marketing approach and integrated sales strategy proved effective as Lenovo's Greater China and Russia unit maintained double-digit growth for consecutive years before the recent economic crisis hit.

Chen was selected among the Chinese Economic Leaders of the Year 2007.

"When you judge a country, you should judge it by whether the country is progressing or regressing…I'd say you Americans should change your attitude because if you don't, the Chinese people will suspect your sincerity."

Wu Jianmin, former Chinese Ambassador to France, talking about communication problems between Americans and Chinese in a recent interview with Newsweek reporters

"Until they resolve the bilateral dispute, there's zero chance of supplies not being disrupted...If the Europeans want to avoid the gas going off next January they need to stay engaged and push for a longer-term deal."

Andrew Neff, an energy analyst at U.S.-based IHS Global Insight, warning that the EU will not secure stable long-term natural gas supplies through Ukraine without a resolution of the payment dispute between Moscow and Kiev

"I inherited a recession, I'm ending on a recession."

Former U.S. President George W. Bush, at his farewell White House press conference on January 13

"There's a big question mark over everything. We don't know what kind of business model they have now."

Amar Ambani, Vice President of Research at broker India Infoline, after India's top software company Satyam Computer Services revealed years of accounting fraud on January 9, the largest scandal in India's corporate history

"The stresses on global food production from temperature alone are going to be huge, and that doesn't take into account water supplies stressed by the higher temperatures."

David Battisti, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington, predicting on January 8 that half of the world's population could face food shortages by the end of this century due to climate change

"If there is (the) overall sentiment that the global economy will slow down significantly in 2009, with industrialized economies having negative figures, it is also noted that 2010 should be the year of the recovery."

Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, speaking on January 12 as the spokesman for the Group of 10's central bankers meeting at the Bank for International Settlements