Official propaganda machines yesterday trumpeted a new 'model scientist' as China moves to launch an ambitious programme to boost science and technology development.
Splashed across the front pages of People's Daily and other leading newspapers, Jiang Xinsong, who died last year of heart attack aged 66, was extolled as a model of originality and a vision-oriented pioneer.
Jiang, known as 'the father of China's robotics industry', was described as a strategist aware of pioneering research projects going on in international science.
'His strong sense of mission resulted in revolutionary achievements in the nation's technological growth,' People's Daily said.
Another special commentary in the same newspaper called on Chinese scientists to emulate Jiang's sense of mission to strengthen the nation by researching the world's leading scientific fields and engaging in innovations which would serve the country's development.
President Jiang Zemin has urged scientists to 'revive China through science and technology'.