Man behind China’s first atom bomb dies

BEIJING - Zhu Guangya, who contributed to the development of China’s first atom and hydrogen bombs, died Saturday. He was 87.

Zhu was a senior academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He also served as vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top political advisory body, between 1994-2003, Xinhua reported.

Born in central China’s Yichang city, Zhu obtained a PhD in nuclear physics from the University of Michigan in 1950. He returned to China the same year and later joined the ruling Communist Party of China in 1956.