Lu Yongxiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was elected on Wednesday in Amsterdamas one of two chairmen of the Inter Academy Council (IAC), a major international cooperation organ for science academies.

Lu, who is vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, was nominated by former IAC chairman Goverdhan Mehta, former President Indian Academy of Science, and won favor from all members attending the fifth annual session of the IAC Board.

Addressing the meeting after the election, Lu said he would promote the cooperation among science academies from all over the world during his four-year term, vowing to make his due contribution to a better world.

Bruce Alberts, President of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, was re-elected as another chairman of the IAC.

The IAC, headquartered in Amsterdam, was created by the world'sscience academies in May 2000. Its secretariat is at the Dutch Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The IAC aims to mobilize the best scientists and engineers worldwide to provide high quality advice to international bodies -such as the United Nations and the World Bank - as well as to other institutions.

Source: Xinhua