The Plasma Center of the Hefei Matter Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced on Thursday that it had been chosen to train plasma specialists for third world countries.

A spokeswoman with the center said it was informed of the decision by the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), a non-governmental organization, and that the fellowship training program, established in accordance with an agreement signed between CAS and TWAS in 2004, would be valid for five years.

CAS, with headquarters in Beijing, will provide fellowships to 50 medical professionals from third world countries chosen for the training program each year. The amount of the fellowship is not disclosed.

TWAS, initiated by Nobel physics laureate, Abdus Salam, of Pakistan, was founded in November 1983. It has 626 academicians from 77 countries and regions. A total of 89 Chinese scientists have been elected academicians of TWAS.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2005)