On September 30, the 2026 Chinese Government Friendship Award Ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People. Professor Cyril O’Connor, a foreign collaborator of the China-South Africa Belt and Road Joint Laboratory for Sustainable Mineral Resources Development and Utilization and a renowned international mineral processing scholar from the University of Cape Town, received the award.

As China’s highest honor conferred by the Chinese government on foreign experts, this year’s award was presented to 50 recipients in total. Since 2009, Professor O’Connor has carried out joint research with BGRIMM Technology Group, making remarkable contributions to advancing China-South Africa scientific and technological cooperation in mining as well as talent development. This marks the second time a foreign member of the Joint Laboratory has won this prestigious award, following Botlhale Ezrom Ngope.