Expats awarded for significant contributions to Shanghai's development
The city's mayor Ying Yong (center) stands with the city's two honorary citizens and their families.
Two expatriates were named Honorary Citizens of Shanghai, and another eleven received the Magnolia Gold Award for their outstanding contribution to the city’s development.
The awards ceremonies were held by the city government on Saturday afternoon. Shanghai's mayor Ying Yong handed the awards to the recipients.
Honorary citizenship is the highest honor in the city’s honors system for foreigners.
Ying said the honorary citizens have made outstanding contributions to the city’s development. The city aims to develop an excellent global city by 2040, and the Mayor hopes to share development opportunities with more expatriates, and have more foreigners participate in Shanghai’s economic and social development, as well as promote the city’s international exchange and cooperation.
The two honorary citizens are 44-year-old Filipino Larry Chan, chairman of Liwayway China Co, and 60-year-old South African David Preston, chief executive of Boehringer Ingelheim China.
Chan came to the city in 1996 following his father’s footsteps and has witnessed the city’s rapid development since then.
“Twelve years ago, my father was given the same honor in Shanghai,” Chan said. "Today my daughter and son are also presented here. I hope they can feel and pass down the spirit, and continue to make contributions to Shanghai’s development.”
Chan’s father Carlos Chan, former head of Liwayway, was named an honorary citizen in 2005.
Eleven expatriates received the Magnolia Gold Award on Saturday for their outstanding contributions to the city.
In the ceremony of the Magnolia Gold Award, the city’s deputy mayor Xu Kunlin expressed the city government’s gratitude for the recipients’ extraordinary contributions to the city’s development.
Xu said the recipients represent the best of their industries, coming from sectors including trade, manufacturing, the service industry, science and technology, education and culture.
Xu said he hopes expatriates from all walks of life continue to contribute to the city’s development, and that they seize development opportunities and build great dreams in Shanghai.
“We are confident that your extraordinary contribution and our combined effort will make Shanghai an even better city,” he said.
The recipients are from eight countries: Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the United States.
Among those recognized is a second-time Magnolia award winner Matt Tsien, President of GM China. Tsien’s ties to Shanghai go back to 1995, and he first received the Magnolia Silver Award in 2014.
“The Magnolia Award is a great honor that I share with all of our company’s employees who have helped GM establish a strong presence in Shanghai and drive our continued success,” Tsien said, adding that they will continue to provide safer, better and more sustainable transportation solutions to people in Shanghai and throughout China.
Earlier this month, 50 foreigners were given the Magnolia Silver Award in recognition for their contribution to the city.
The Magnolia Award was set up in 1989 by the city government to honor foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to Shanghai. It consists of the Magnolia Silver Award, the Magnolia Gold Award and Honorary Citizenship of Shanghai.
Larry Chan, chairman of Liwayway China Co, receives the Honorary Citizenship award from Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong.
David Preston, chief executive of Boehringer Ingelheim China, receives the Honorary Citizenship award from Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong.
