Nobel winner launches prize

China's first Nobel Prize winner in physiology or medicine, Tu Youyou, celebrated her 86th birthday by signing an official agreement to donate 1 million yuan ($144,900) to establish the Peking University Tu Youyou Talent Award Foundation.

The initiative will provide financial support and incentives to the university's students and young teachers of medicine.

Han Qide, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference - a legislative body - and Hao Ping, China's vice-minister of education, also Party secretary of Peking University, witnessed the signing at Tu's residence on Dec 25, a few days before her birthday on Dec 30.