On February 4, 2024, the 2023 Chinese Government Friendship Award ceremony was grandly held in Beijing. State Councilor Chen Yiqin presented the award to the winning foreign experts and gave a speech.   

On February 5, 2024, a reception and academic presentation celebrating Professor Yvon Le Maho's receipt of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, hosted by the International Zoological Society, was held at the China Science and Technology Hall. Luo Hui, member of the Party Leadership Group of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology and minister of the Department of International Cooperation, Qin Jiuyi, chairman of the New Technology Development Center of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, Wang Zhenyu, deputy director of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhan Xiangjiang, deputy director of the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Helene BERGES, science and technology commissioner of the French Higher Education, Research and Innovation Center of the French Embassy in China, and Philippe ARNAUD, director of the Chinese representative office of the French National Science Center, attended the meeting. More than 60 people from the International Cooperation Department of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the the Belt and Road International Association of Scientific Organizations (ANSO), the National Commission for Man and the Biosphere of China and other units, as well as foreign student representatives from the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, were invited to participate in the event.

The conference was chaired by Professor Zhang Zhibin, Executive Director of the International Zoological Society and Hainan University. He first extended warm congratulations to Professor Yvonne Le Maho on his award. He stated that Professor Yvonne Le Maho is a world-renowned zoologist and ecologist who has conducted research on Antarctic penguins for over half a century and made outstanding contributions to their conservation and science popularization. He has been elected as a member of the French Academy of Sciences and the European Academy of Sciences. In addition, Professor Maho, as Honorary President of the French Association for the Exchange of Senior Talents, Executive Committee Member of the International Zoological Society, and Expert of the Hainan Province Foreign Academician Workstation, has made outstanding contributions to promoting cooperation and exchanges between China and France in biodiversity conservation research. Professor Zhang Zhibin pointed out that the International Zoological Society was established in China in 2004, originating from the first International Zoological Congress held in Paris, France in 1889. Therefore, the International Zoological Society has a long historical connection with France. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. This reception is not only a celebration of Professor Maho's receipt of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, but also a celebration and blessing of the friendship between China and France!

Luo Hui, member of the Party Group and Minister of International Cooperation of the China Association for Science and Technology, delivered the first speech. She first congratulated Professor Maho on receiving this honor, expressed admiration for his achievements in animal research, and thanked him for his cooperation and contributions with the International Zoological Society and Chinese colleagues. Luo Hui expressed that on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, Professor Yvonne Le Maho's award has special significance. He hopes that Professor Yvonne Le Maho will continue to promote exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and French scientific and technological workers under the guidance of the "Sino French spirit", and add new brilliance to the friendship between the Chinese and French scientific and technological communities. She pointed out that the International Zoological Society is an international scientific and technological organization established earlier in China, which has achieved outstanding results in promoting global zoological research, addressing major challenges such as climate change, species extinction, and disease epidemics. The China Association for Science and Technology will continue to pay attention to and support the work of the International Zoological Society, and also look forward to Professor Yvonne Le Maho playing a greater role in the International Zoological Society.

Wang Zhenyu, Deputy Director of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said in his speech that foreign cooperation and exchange is one of the important tasks of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. China France cooperation plays an important role in the foreign cooperation and exchange work of the Academy of Sciences, and there have been many successful examples of cooperation before. The initiation, establishment and development of the International Zoological Society have always received the attention and support of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including supporting the International Zoological Society to promote the ecological effects of global change, rodent control in Africa, ecological security assessment of the China Mongolia Russia Economic Corridor, automatic intelligent monitoring of animals in human and biosphere reserves and other important international scientific plans or projects. Under the active promotion of Professor Yvonne Le Maho and Professor Zhang Zhibin, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the French Research Center will further deepen research cooperation in biodiversity, animal epidemics, ecological health and other fields, as well as promote mutual visits and exchanges between students from both sides.

Finally, Professor Yvonne Le Maho gave a brief acceptance speech. He expressed that he is very honored to receive the Chinese Government Friendship Award, and his cooperation with the International Zoological Society and Chinese counterparts is very pleasant. He is pleased to see the rapid development of China's science and technology in recent years and its contributions to the world. He also briefly reported on his decades long research work. He first introduced wireless radio frequency technology and robotics technology into the research of Antarctic penguins, overcoming the adverse effects of traditional environmental monitoring technology on penguin survival and reproduction. He also discovered an antibacterial peptide substance in the penguin's stomach, which can maintain the fish and other food obtained from foraging in high temperature environments for a long time, so as to feed the chicks when they return to the nest for several weeks. This antibacterial peptide substance can be developed using human food preservation technology. After listening to Professor Maho's report, the attending representatives expressed that they had gained a lot. Firstly, they learned about animal survival adaptation strategies. Secondly, they experienced the hardships of scientists persisting in field work. Thirdly, they recognized the promotion of new technologies and products through basic research.

During the activity, Professor Zhang Zhibin and researcher Zhan Xiangjiang, on behalf of the International Zoological Society and the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the supporting unit of the Society, respectively, presented flowers to Professor Yvonne Le Maho and expressed warm congratulations.

Before the event, He Junke, Secretary of the Party Group, Vice Chairman in charge of daily work, and First Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology, met with Professor Yvonne Le Maho. Luo Hui, member of the Party Group and Minister of International Cooperation of the China Association for Science and Technology, and Zhang Zhibin, Executive Director of the International Zoological Society, attended the meeting.

Some attending leaders and guests took a group photo. From left: Philippe ARNAUD, Helene BERGES, Luo Hui, Yvon Le Maho, Zhang Zhibin, Wang Zhenyu, Qin Jiuyi

Specially invited guests to speak. From left: Luo Hui, Wang Zhenyu, Yvon Le Maho, Zhang Zhibin

Some leaders took photos with guests. From left to right: Zhan Xiangjiang, Yvon Le Maho, Zhang Zhibin; From left to right: Luo Hui, Yvon Le Maho, Zhang Zhibin

Academic presentations at the venue