On 26 April, Prof. Chi WANG presented the Beijing Science and Technology Award - Zhongguancun Award for International Cooperation to Prof. Alvaro Gimenez at the National Space Science Center. 

The Zhongguancun Award for International Cooperation is one of the Beijing Science and Technology Awards, which aims to encourage foreigners to conduct international scientific and technological exchanges, cooperate with national organisations, and enhance Beijing's international scientific innovation and global influence. A maximum of 10 awardees are selected each year.

Prof. Alvaro Gimenez is a Research Professor at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Special Delegate of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation to the Spanish Space Agency and a member of its Board of Directors. He was honoured for his great contribution to China-ESA cooperation in space science during his time as ESA's Science Director, in particular for promoting the Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), the joint CAS-ESA mission.