Outstanding students and researchers will be able to obtain aid from the Fei Xiaotong Education Fund, which promotes national education and encourages young students to devote themselves to China.

Fei, who has devoted himself to the teaching and research of sociology and anthropology for almost six decades, pins high hopes on the contribution of younger generations.

"I'm old and I hope many scholars can finish the work of my generation through the fund," Fei, 93, said at a weekend ceremony.

Fei's works were instrumental in laying a solid foundation for the development of sociological and anthropological studies in China. He is currently a professor of sociology at Peking University.

Fei is a prolific writer and his masterpieces, Peasant Life in China and From the Soil, the Foundations of Chinese Society are essential reading for sociologists interested in rural China.

The fund is managed by the China Universities Alumni Association.

Tong Xiaobin, secretary-general of the association, said the fund has received about 5 million yuan (US$602,000) in donations since it started in 1997.

Up until now, more than 30 students from Peking University, Tsinghua University and Renmin University of China have been aided by the fund.

"We expect more donations from across the world to give those needy and outstanding students and researchers a push," Tong said.

(China Daily March 31, 2003)