Date：30th Sep. 2019
Source: Institute of Economic and Social Research Office of International Exchange and Cooperation

James J. Heckman, a scholar in JNU's Discipline Innovation Base of Population Mobility and Labor Economics and a chair professor at JNU, spoke as the representative of the award-winners at the 2019 Chinese Government Friendship Awards ceremony, held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept. 30. Meeting with the award-winners and their families, Li Keqiang, a member of the standing committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee and premier of the State Council, fully affirmed the foreign experts' important contribution to China's modernization, and to friendly cooperation between China and foreign countries.
This year 100 foreign experts won the award. Heckman was recommended by the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee.
 

(At the ceremony Li keqiang at the middle and Heckman at right of the first row)
 

(Heckman speaking)
“We are honored to receive the Friendship Award, which has brought us closer to China,” he said in his speech. I would like to begin by thanking those brilliant, sincere and diligent Chinese scholars who have cooperated with us. China has become an important part of my research agenda. I am currently working with scholars from JNU to analyze how to accurately measure human personality, skills and preferences, which play a decisive role in human life. At the same time, we are also studying the impact of lack of parental education on children's development.”

The Friendship Award is China's highest award recognizing foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to modernization, reform and opening-up. It was officially established in 1991 by the State Bureau of Foreign Experts which is authorized by the State Council. This is the first time a JNU expert has been honored.