Peking University, Oct. 8, 2019: On October 3rd, the annual prize presentation ceremony of the LUI Che Woo Prize - Prize for World Civilization 2019 was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to honor the recipients’ outstanding achievements to build a better world. Nominated by Peking University (PKU), Fan Jinshi, alumna of PKU and honorary dean of Dunhuang Academy, was awarded the Positive Energy Prize.
Lui Che-woo presents prize to Fan Jinshi
In 2015, Lui Che-woo donated 2 billion HK dollars to set up the LUI Che Woo Prize - Prize for World Civilization. The prize aims to “praise and affirm outstanding persons or groups who can cultivate moral integrity and promote world civilization with selfless love, so as to do their utmost to build a better world", to reward individuals or groups who have made important contributions in three aspects— “promoting sustainable development of world resources”, “promoting the well-being of the world”, “advocating positive outlook on life and promoting positive energy to inspire people”. Yuan Longping, the pioneer of China's hybrid rice, and Jie Zhenhua, China’s special representative for climate change affairs have won the prize. This year, The Nature Conservancy won the Sustainability Prize, and American biochemist Dr Jennifer A. Doudna won the Welfare Betterment Prize.
Tung Chee-hwa, vice chairman of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Tan Tieniu, vice minister of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, Yang Yirui, deputy commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Huang Lanfa, vice chairman of Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas of CPPCC, Wang Bo, vice president of PKU, and more than a thousand guests from all walks of life attended the prize presentation ceremony.
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor expressed her pleasure in seeing Lui Che-woo’s grand vision come true and praised the recipients for their enthusiasm and belief in protecting and promoting world civilization. She recalled the wonderful experience of visiting Mogao Grottoes and the close cooperation between Dunhuang Academy and Hong Kong’s relevant institutions. She also expressed her affirmation and admiration for Fan Jinshi’s contribution to the protection and promotion of Dunhuang culture.
Lui Che-woo said that he established the prize a few years ago with the belief of “peace, harmony and sharing”, hoping to encourage the world to pursue inner harmony and achieve mutual understanding. He was particularly touched when he saw the results of the recipients’ unremitting efforts and great achievements, which echoed the original concept of LUI Che-woo Prize.
Fan Jinshi said: “The spirit and atmosphere of my alma mater, Peking University, give me life-long nourishment, so that I can never forget the responsibility of protecting the Mogao Grottoes and serving my motherland.” She believes that protecting, studying and promoting Mogao Grottoes still has a long way to go. Guarding Mogao Grottoes is a noble cause that much time must be devoted to. It is also an eternal undertaking that needs generations of people to contribute. She believes that this prize will encourage and urge herself and her colleagues to continue to explore, innovate, scale the heights, and make greater contributions to the protection, research and development of Dunhuang's Mogao Grottoes for the country, the world and mankind.
Written by: Wu Fei
Edited by: Ma Yaoli
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
