Mr Philippe Snel, Managing Director DaWo Law Firm Shanghai, has received the Magnolia Silver Award, honoring foreigners for their contributions to the development of Shanghai.
Fifty foreign nationals were honored this year with the Magnolia Silver Award, named after the Shanghai city flower. The award was initiated by the Shanghai government in 1989 to honor foreigners for their contributions to the city, with 1,316 expats having received the award so far.
“As international elites and industrial leaders, they left their homelands from all over the world for Shanghai and have worked actively here,” said Zhang Xiaosong, Director General of the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, at the award presentation ceremony held at the Bellagio Shanghai Hotel. “They have made great efforts to promote international cooperation, advance joint scientific research, enhance cultural exchanges and mutual trust and drive harmonious social development in the city.” Zhang said though international travel and people-to-people exchanges are still being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Shanghai has always been insisting on cooperation and communication on its path to opening up. “It is the philosophy and vision of seeking common ground while reserving differences and being inclusive that has fostered faster and better development of our city,” he said. He invited international friends to continue to work together with local people to create a better life.
Kamran-Charles Vossoughi, President and CEO of Michelin China, expressed his gratitude to the Shanghai government and people for the honor on behalf of the 50 recipients. The Frenchman recalled the first day he arrived in Shanghai in 2019. “When I received my work permit from the staff of the Exit-Entry Administration, the officer told me: 'Welcome to Shanghai! From now on, Shanghai is your home.' 'Home,' after two years of living and working in Shanghai, this word echoes in my ears again and again, and the meaning of this word has gone deeper as time has evolved,” he said. Vossoughi said the city has impressed him with its inclusiveness for foreigners working here, its excellent business environment, especially the support and care the government has given during the Covid-19 pandemic, and its vitality, talent, technology, innovation and cooperation, which give multinational corporations the confidence to establish their Chinese headquarters in Shanghai. Lance Lee, Asia-Pacific President of Bayer Consumer Health, a Canadian who has been in Shanghai since 2008, said the award represented the continuous care and support from the Shanghai government to foreign companies and foreigners, the Shanghai Daily reports.
