TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Academia Sinica President James Liao (廖俊智) was awarded France’s Legion of Honor for his promotion of academic exchanges between the two countries, reports said Wednesday.

Liao deepened international scientific and research cooperation, and contributed to the global development of science, per CNA. A chemist who taught at the University of California, Los Angeles, Liao has led Taiwan’s most prestigious academic institution since 2016.

French presidential science adviser Pierre Paul Zalio pinned the medal on him at a ceremony Tuesday at the French representative office in Taipei. The Taiwanese-American academic now bears the title of “Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur,” one of five titles created by Napoleon in 1802.

Liao’s efforts promoting exchanges with France turned Taiwan into a hub for French studies of East Asian history and culture, Academia Sinica commented. Liao thanked the French government and his French academic partners for the honor, while emphasizing that academic research cooperation would continue to expand.