50 foreign experts receive 2026 Friendship Award

For Ravi Silva, a distinguished professor and director of the Advanced Technology Institute at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, receiving the 2026 Chinese Government Friendship Award was one of the highlights of his career.

Silva was among 50 foreign experts honored with the 2026 Chinese Government Friendship Award for their outstanding contributions to the country's development.

He told China Daily he felt deeply honored while attending a reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Based in the UK, Silva collaborates extensively with Chinese universities, including Zhengzhou University, with which he has particularly close ties.

He arrived from the UK on Monday for the award ceremony and planned to spend two days in Zhengzhou, Henan province, before returning home.

"We do a lot of work associated with the training of students as well as the exchange of academic staff that allows us to look at new-generation solar cells, new-generation batteries and look at health and medical applications that make the world a better place," Silva said.

"I think that cooperation is improving significantly," he said of ties between China and the UK, pointing to opportunities to address shared challenges through science and technology.

Silva highlighted China's contribution to the global energy transition.

He recalled that the expansion of Chinese solar cell exports had initially prompted debate in the West, but said China had since become a powerhouse in solar cell production, helping the world decarbonize.

He also noted China's leading role in electric vehicles, saying that "unless you do electric vehicles, you cannot decarbonize that."

"I think within the next five to 10 years, there will be an appreciation associated with the amount of resources and improvements China has delivered to the rest of the world," Silva said.

Earlier on Wednesday, State Councilor Shen Yiqin presented the awards and congratulated the recipients during a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People.

China's economy is moving toward innovation-driven and high-quality growth, injecting much-needed certainty into the global economy, Shen said.

Foreign experts play an important role in advancing China's economic and social development and strengthening friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries, she said.

Shen welcomed more foreign experts to work alongside the Chinese people in the country's modernization drive, reach new heights in science and contribute to humanity's well-being.

China will provide strong support for foreign talent seeking long-term, stable development in the country, she added.

Fellow recipient Simon Lichtenberg, All China founding chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, said he felt that the award recognized both his personal contribution and the chamber's work in promoting business cooperation.

"It's a big honor, but I think the building of collaboration between China and the world is the key thing," he said.

"No country can solve the issues in the world alone. We have to work together. Friendship between countries and collaboration are critical."