China Influencers

China Newsweek December 24

Eighteen people were recognized for their role in China’s development by China Newsweek in an event in Beijing on December 15, 2018.

The annual Influencing China Figures award was launched in 2009 to honor individuals and organizations that have made major contributions to China’s social progress.

The awardees came from a wide spectrum of fields. Zhu Min, former Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) and Chair of the National Institute of Financial Research at Tsinghua University, was honored as scholar of the year. He has promoted reform of the IMF and after retiring from the organization, chose to return to China to teach and advise on the Chinese economy.

Shan Jixiang, Curator of the Palace Museum, was the cultural figure of the year. Since assuming the position, Shan has committed himself to reforms, taking the previously aloof and solemn palace closer to people through TV shows, cultural and creative products, as well as social media platforms. The 64-year-old has become a Web celebrity himself.

Wang Yifang, Director of the Institute of High Energy Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was named scientific figure of the year. His team unveiled its concept design of a giant electron positron collider that could help scientists