Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan on Thursday called on the country's geological workers to learn from Zheng Mianping, a model geologist.

During his meeting with Zheng on Thursday, the vice premier said Zheng and his team have made a great contribution to the country's economic development through their exploration of salt lake resources on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the past half century.

Zheng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has made pioneering research in salt lakes resources on the plateau, and his theory has led to discovery of such mineral resources as kalium.

The Chinese Government passed a resolution earlier this year to strengthen the country's geological work, said the vice-premier.

China, which is poor in most mineral resources, has to import growing amounts of mineral resources to meet its increasing demand, while the prices of non-ferrous metals have been going up on international markets.

Sixteen Chinese geologists were honored in Beijing on Monday for their outstanding performance in research, field work and education.

Zeng presented the awards to the geologists at the Ninth Li Siguang Geological Science Award Presentation Ceremony.

The award is named after leading Chinese geologist Li Siguang, who made a great contribution to the development of China's geoscience and geological education. His research led to the discovery and successful exploration of gas and oil fields in Daqing and Shengli regions.

Source: Xinhua