Epstein with his wife Huang Huanbi

Chinese President Jiang Zemin presented a basket of flowers to Israel Epstein, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a veteran expert and emeritus editor-in-chief of China Today, at the Great Hall of the People on April 20 to celebrate his 60th year in China and his 80th birthday.

Israel Epstein is a journalist famous in China and throughout the world. Born in Poland, he moved with his parents to China at an early age and began his journalism career at 15. He joined the China Defense League initiated by Soong Ching-Ling (wife of Sun Yat-sen and former honorary chairwoman of the People's Republic of China) in the 1930s and engaged in international publicity to win support for China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

As a foreign correspondent, he risked his life, working on the front lines and in rear areas, writing vivid reports on the heroic achievements of the Chinese people. In the early 1950s, he returned to China at the invitation of Soong Ching-Ling to help launch China Reconstructs (the predecessor of China Today) eventually serving as its executive editor and editor-in-chief.

Epstein, who has deep feelings for China and the Chinese people, became a Chinese citizen in 1957. For the past 60 years, he has written numerous reports and several lengthy works about China's development and changes and has made outstanding contributions to the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and the world.

The Foreign Languages Publishing and Distribution Administration, the Soong Ching-Ling Foundation, the State Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs, the China Welfare Institute and China Today were also represented at the gathering.

Epstein expressed his heartfelt gratitude to state and Party leaders and friends attending and expressed pride in his Chinese citizenship. He said he was full of energy though being 80 and eager to do more work for the revived old country. The honor the state gave me will encourage me in the remaining years of my life, said Epstein.