On April 28, 2015, the National Commendation Assembly for Role-Models and Exceptional talents was held in People’s great Hall to celebrate the International Labor Day where President Xi Jin-ping and other state leaders granted the honor to the talents. Prof. Tao Zhang, one of the center directors, center researcher, director of the DICP, was awarded the "Nation-wide exceptional talent" honorary title due to his remarkable performance and outstanding contribution.

The Assembly is held every five years to award people from diversified fields who made significant contribution to the country’s economic and social development, promoted social modernization. The "National Role-Model" honorary titles were given to pioneers in industry, agriculture, etc., while about 904 people from the nationally well-developed institutions were given the "Nation-wide exceptional talent" honorary titles this year.