ecns [expanded by feedex.net]: Foreigners recognized at annual city awards

ecns [expanded by feedex.net]

ecns

Foreigners recognized at annual city awards
http://www.ecns.cn/2015/10-01/183261.shtml
Oct 1st 2015, 02:06






Dhanin Chearavanont (left), chairman of Thai food conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group, receives his Honorary Citizen of Shanghai award from Mayor Yang Xiong yesterday. (Dong Jun)



Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong yesterday presented Honorary Citizen of Shanghai awards to two foreigners and Shanghai Magnolia Gold Awards to 11 others in recognition of their contributions to the city's social and economic development.


Thai Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman of food conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group, was one of the two men given the top award.


"I feel privileged to be granted this award as I know it is the highest honor for expats and the selection process is very strict," he told Shanghai Daily.


Dhanin, also president of the China Federation of Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs and vice president of China-Thailand Friendship Association, was among the first foreign businessmen to invest in China after it began its reform and opening-up policy in the late 1970s.


Charoen Pokphand owns the Lotus supermarket chain, which is popular across Shanghai, and the Super Brand Mall in the Pudong New Area.


"Shanghai is still full of opportunities for international investment," Dhanin said.


"The free trade zone in Pudong is attractive, as it offers simplified processes for foreign investment and other favorable policies, all of which help in a competitive market," he said.


The second recipient of the Honorary Citizen award was Spaniard Joan Clos Matheu, who is undersecretary of the United Nations and executive director of the UN Human Settlements Program.


Clos, who was unable to receive his award in person, began his relationship with Shanghai 14 years ago while serving as mayor of Barcelona.


During his tenure, Shanghai and Barcelona became sister cities.


In his roles at the UN, he arranged for 22 UN organizations to participate in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and in the years following the event provided support for China's initiative to designate October 31 — the day on which the Shanghai World Expo ended — as "World Cities Day."


The resolution was passed by UN General Assembly in 2013.


This year's recipients of the Magnolia Gold Awards hail from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, India and South Africa.


Their contributions to Shanghai were made in the fields of business, scientific research, sport, health, education, and they were presented with their gongs at a ceremony in City Hall.


Among them was David Garth Preston, a South African, and chairman and chief executive of Boehringer Ingelheim's China arm.


"I have lived and observed the powerful changes that this glorious city we know as Shanghai has undergone over the past 20 years," he said.


"Shanghai continues to transform itself under the excellent stewardship of its leaders."


In 2014, Boehringer Ingelheim China paid 480 million yuan (US$75.5 million) in tax, putting it among the city's top 100 taxpayers.


Since Shanghai began honoring foreigners in 1989, a total of 39 expatriates have been named Honorary Citizens and 289 have received Magnolia Gold Awards.


　　




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