Ten foreigners were presented with the Magnolia Gold Award for their outstanding contributions to the city yesterday.

Mayor Han Zheng presented them with a framed certificate and a medal at the city hall.

The winners are from Australia, Britain, Japan, France, Malaysia, Poland, Thailand and the Netherlands and have been honored for their outstanding contributions to the city's development.

"We would like to thank the Shanghai government for awarding this prestigious honor upon us. We all feel very proud to receive the award but none of us feel that we have contributed enough to deserve the award," said James D. McIlvenny, Asia Pacific and China president of the Dow Chemical Company.

"While the 2008 Olympics are now behind us, the world will shift its gaze upon Shanghai in the lead-up to the 2010 World Expo," he said.

"We will have a great opportunity to show the world what a great place Shanghai is to live and invest in."

Seven recipients attended the ceremony.

The three absent winners were Janiszewski Januse M., from Poland, general director of Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Company Frederic Rose, from France, former president of Alcatel-Shanghai Bell Co Ltd and Takeshi Hanai, from Japan, chairman of Mizuho Corporate Bank (China) Ltd.

The Magnolia Award, named after the city's official flower, is the highest title awarded to foreigners who contribute to the city's economic and social development.

(Shanghai Daily September 29, 2008)