Heading a MOST delegation, Mr. CAO Jianlin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s 

CAO (Fifth from the left) visits the Observatory

Republic of China visited the Yangbajing International Cosmic Ray Observatory in Tibet on August 17, 2011.

Mr. CAO used to be the Vice President of CAS in charge of high-tech development. Assuming his present post, he's got much wider responsibilities covering basic science and high-tech development. By visiting the observatory, he tries to know more about basic science and the construction of research facilities in remote areas

During his visit, the Vice Minister listened to presentations on the on-going activities in the observatory and the construction process. He was very happy and satisfied with the achievements made over the years by the CAS scientists and the scientists from abroad. While learning there were difficulties in raising funds for supporting international cooperative programs, the Vice Minister instructed the related MOST departments to help settle the problems. Mr. CAO also listened to the report on the progress of "the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) Project" and hoped that the project be approved during the Twelfth Five-Year plan.

Mr. CAO left with a deep impression; he expressed his thanks and appreciation to the scientists who have long dedicated themselves to science under hard and difficult conditions.