Prof. John E. Hopcroft was granted the 2016 Chinese Government Friendship Award just before the National Day of China. Prof. Hopcroft is an honorary professor at SJTU, special advisor to the president of SJTU, Turing Award winner, fellow of National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering of the US, professor at the computer science department of Cornell University. 

The Friendship Award is the People's Republic of China's highest award for foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to the country's economic and social progress. This year a total of 50 experts from 21 countries received this award. On September 29, Vice Premier Kai Ma presented the award at the Great Hall of the People. On September 30, Premier Keqiang Li, Vice Premier Gaoli Zhang and Vice Premier Kai Ma met with the award winners.