Shanghai confers Magnolia Silver Award on 50 expats

The Shanghai Municipal Government conferred on Saturday the 2024 Magnolia Silver Award on Franka Gulin, director and chief representative of the Croatian National Tourist Board's Shanghai representative office, and 49 other expatriates, recognizing their contributions to the city's development and international exchanges.

The award ceremony took place at the Grand Halls, which offers stunning views of the city, including the historic Bund on the west bank of the Huangpu River and the modern Lujiazui financial area, home to landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Tower.

Kong Fu'an, director-general of the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, presented the medals and certificates to the recipients, who hail from 18 countries.

In his speech, Kong emphasized Shanghai's status as an international, innovative and inclusive city that has taken the lead in achieving Chinese-style modernization.

He highlighted the pivotal roles that foreigners, foreign-invested enterprises and foreign institutions play in the city's development, noting that they have been "not only witnesses, but also active participants and contributors".

Kong said that Gulin has "worked tirelessly to share China's stories with the world, promote Shanghai's wonders and introduce the city's unique culture". Having spent the past seven years in Shanghai, Gulin has published numerous articles and books showcasing the city's culture, history and modernity to audiences in Croatia and across Europe.

This year's Magnolia awardees come from diverse fields such as trade, finance, technology, shipping, healthcare, education, culture, sports and agriculture.

The list includes Pietro Brambilla from Italy, who serves as North Asia chief financial officer at L'Oreal China, Dmitri Mokhov from Canada, an airframe model development expert at COMAC Shanghai Aircraft Customer Service Co, and Hong Shen from the United States, who is senior vice-president and head of Roche Innovation Center of China at Roche R&D Center (China) Ltd.

Kong said, "We sincerely hope that the award recipients will continue to be ambassadors of Sino-foreign friendship, storytellers of Shanghai, and representatives of Shanghai's image."

Francis Gurry from Australia, former director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, was commended for his support in developing intellectual property in Shanghai and promoting multifaceted cooperation between WIPO and the city.

Professor Marc Delpech from France, a representative of the awardees, shared his experiences on contributing to Sino-French medical cooperation over three decades.

As the national coordinator of the French-speaking section for medical students at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and currently vice-dean of the Sino-French Joint Medical College at the university's School of Medicine, Delpech emphasized the enduring and expanding friendship between China and France.

He noted that his predecessor, Professor Guy Vincendon, received the Magnolia award in 2003, highlighting the continuity and strength of the bilateral medical and educational relationship.

Another awardee, Carlo D'Andrea, chief representative of Studio Legale D'Andrea, has helped many foreign companies settle in China, particularly in Shanghai. The Italian lawyer praised Shanghai as "the best location to do business in China". He highlighted Shanghai's commitment to deepening reform and opening-up, which he said gives the city "a lot of potential to unleash".

Gulin, from the Croatian National Tourist Board's Shanghai representative office, found herself overwhelmed by emotions as she spoke to reporters about her life in China.

After living in Beijing for six years, she moved to Shanghai in 2017 to become the first representative of the Croatian National Tourist Board in China. She instantly fell in love with Shanghai, a city she describes as "not only one of the major cities in China, but also one of the capitals of the world, because here we meet people from all over the world".

Praising Shanghai's continuous efforts to enhance services for foreigners, Gulin said she highly recommends that young people, especially those coming to China from smaller countries, should settle in the city.

Shanghai's recent initiatives to boost convenience for foreign nationals include optimizing payment methods, expanding accommodations choices to include boutique homestays in addition to star-rated hotels, and continuously improving the business environment.

Shanghai has launched a nine-language international service portal, designed to provide a one-stop, multilingual, user-friendly platform for foreign nationals. The portal offers comprehensive information and services for working, traveling, living, doing business and studying in the city. It includes policy interpretations, service guides and timely updates on events such as the China International Import Expo.

As a professional in the tourism industry, Gulin said she is particularly drawn to the measures that Shanghai has adopted to facilitate international travel.

The city has established three comprehensive service centers for foreign nationals at its airport terminals, she said. These centers, which became fully operational on Sept 27, offer a range of services including payment options, tourism information, communication and transportation assistance. They provide service manuals, tourist maps, SIM card sales, transportation card sales, currency exchange, mobile payment options and 24/7 customer service.

Gulin recently shared brochures from these centers with a visiting delegation, highlighting their usefulness. While she said she considers herself "very Chinese", having adapted to convenient digital options such as mobile payment and online shopping, she acknowledged the value of the brochures in helping foreign visitors integrate into local life.

As China's inbound tourism continues to gain momentum, Gulin said she sees great potential for Shanghai as a top destination.

"Shanghai is not only a big, futuristic city, it's also a city full of very interesting history — visible on every street, in every corner," she said, adding that Shanghai is a must-visit place in one's lifetime.

Contact the writers at linshujuan@chinadaily.com.cn