China says farewell to 'father of space technology'

• Source: Global Times
• [10:55 November 06 2009]
• Comments

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin (R) shakes hands with a relative of Qian Xuesen during the farewell ceremony for Qian in Beijing, China, Nov. 6, 2009.(Xinhua photo)

"I had been an assistant to Mr. Qian. He was a very serious and devoted scientist but, in everyday life, he was so easygoing," said Liu Juntao, a senior research fellow with the China Academy of Space Technology, at the ceremony. "The way he worked and thought is still inspiring me."

Since Sunday, thousands of people have paid homage at his former apartment.

"I was deeply moved. I did not expect so many people to come to mourn him," said Qian Yonggang, his son.

Flowers and mourning wreaths, brought by visitors, filled the doorway of the apartment building and workers had to repeatedly move them away.

Qian is widely remembered for abandoning a decent life in the United States and returning to then poor China in the 1950s.

"There was a huge gap between life here and in the United States in the 1950s when China had just gone through a devastating civil war," said Zheng Nanning, president of the Xi'an Jiaotong University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

"We should remember all intellectuals of older generations like Qian for their deep love and devotion to the motherland."

Family members of Chinese space scientist Qian Xuesen attend the farewell ceremony for him in Beijing, China, Nov. 6, 2009.(Xinhua photo)