Xu Jun, a famous Chinese professor with Nanjing University in the capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, has been awarded a gold medal by the French government for his contributions in education and translation.

Nicolas Chapuis, French consul general in Shanghai, visited the city Friday afternoon to give Xu the French gold medal of education -- L'ordre de L'officier des Palemes accademiqnes -- on behalf of the French government.

Xu, 45, is the dean of western language literature of the university. He has so far translated 31 French literature masterpieces, such as works by Hugo, totaling seven million words. Among his other translations are 100 French theoretical works and academic papers.

In 1993 and 1998, he was rewarded prizes for French-Chinese translation by the French government. China has conferred a dozen honors on him.

Xu holds positions in a number of domestic and international translation associations, research institutes and journals.

The medal was initiated in 1808 by Emperor Napoleon for those French and international experts who made great contributions to education in the form of research on French language and culture.