(Yicai Global) Feb. 13 -- The former governor of the People's Bank of China has received a Lifetime Achievement award from the UK's Central Banking Journal.

Zhou won the distinction because he "stands out for his high levels of integrity, intellectual rigor and bold reforms that have served the public interest in China and elsewhere."

The journal extolled Zhou as a " bold reformer" pivotal in exchange and interest rate liberalization, financial services and capital market reform, and capital account convertibility and yuan internationalization.

PBOC governor for 15 years, Zhou retired from the post in March 2018. His tenure coincided with a period of rapid growth of the Chinese economy, during which it became the world's second-largest.

Editor: Ben Armour