At two separate ceremonies on 29 September, Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, chairman and founder of WMG (at the University of Warwick), was given the Great Wall Friendship Award by Beijing City and the Chinese Government Friendship Award — the first time an individual has received the two awards on the same day.

The Great Wall Friendship Award was presented by acting mayor Chen Jining in appreciation of Lord Bhattacharyya’s ‘enthusiastic support and contribution to Beijing’s construction, and your friendly co-operation’.

The Chinese Government Friendship Award was presented by vice-premier Ma Kai at the Ceremony of the Chinese Government Friendship Award in the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square.

“Vice Premier Ma Kai extended “heartfelt thanks for Professor Lord Bhattacharyya’s participation in China’s development.”

Lord Bhattacharyya said: “An honour given by Beijing reflects the vision they have for welcoming international experts to serve their great city.

“I came to Beijing for the first time in the early 1980s, and the remarkable transformation of the city since then is a wonder. To receive the national award from vice-premier Ma Kai was a great honour to me.

“Playing a role in this new age of Chinese innovation has been a stimulating part of my life for over 30 years. I launched our first joint programme with Chinese industry in 1989.

“We have helped to develop more than 3,000 Chinese engineers and to place innovation at the heart of Chinese economic growth and wealth creation.”