PARIS, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Getachew Engida, former UNESCO deputy director general and co-president of the China-Africa Leadership Development Institute of Tsinghua University, and Jean-Marc Dublanc, CEO of Bluestar Adisseo, on Wednesday received the 2022 Chinese Government Friendship Award here.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye hailed the two foreign experts are actors and builders of China's modernization and constitute an important link between China and the rest of the world.
"Like Getachew Engida and Jean-Marc Dublanc, foreign experts have been actively engaged in the cause of China's modernization, and with their wisdom, affection, erudition, and diligence, they have worked with their Chinese colleagues to cultivate the flowers of friendship and nurture fruitful cooperation between China and the rest of the world," Lu said in his speech.
"We warmly welcome foreign experts like Mr. Getachew Engida and Mr. Jean-Marc Dublanc to take part in China's modernization in various fields, and make new contributions to cooperation between China and foreign countries, and to global development," he added.
For their part, Engida and Dublanc thanked the Chinese government for the award and pledged to continue to reinforce cooperation with China in the fields of education, science, and talents.
The Chinese Government Friendship Award is the highest award to commend foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive.
Since its inception in 1991, 1,848 foreign experts have received the award, including 49 from 21 countries for the year 2022.