Shanghai recognizes foreign experts

The municipal government of Shanghai granted awards to 11 foreign experts on Tuesday: honorary citizenship to two and the magnolia award to nine.

Two specialists in aircraft manufacturing stood out from this year's laureates: Mykola Bytsko from Ukraine and Owen James Evers from Canada.

Both work for Shanghai Aircraft Design and Research Institute, the research and development arm of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. (COMAC). The institute is dedicated to the design and manufacturing of aircraft including ARJ21 and C919.

Bytsko, a specialist on wing and engine design, was named honorary citizen of Shanghai, while Evers, who specializes in testing and flight trials, won the magnolia award, said Huang Weimao, deputy chief of Shanghai bureau of foreign experts' affairs.

"We have granted them the awards to mark their contribution to the aircraft design and manufacturing, as well as to Shanghai's development," Huang told Xinhua.

Majdi Bader Abulaban, president of Delphi Asia-Pacific, was also made an honorary citizen of Shanghai.

Abulaban said Shanghai was an ideal business environment for foreign employees and investors. "When my friends asked me why I came to Shanghai, I used to say 'I have a job there'. Now I'd say 'my heart is there'."

Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong said Shanghai would always be open to international specialists and business people. "I hope they can all fulfill their dreams here."

A total of 37 foreigners have been made honorary citizens of Shanghai since the title was first awarded in 1997. Meanwhile, 278 international personage have been granted the magnolia award since it was initiated in 1993.