One of Liverpool’s flagship international events and awards - ChinaLink Business Awards Dinner - has had its reputation further enhanced by one of its award recipients this year.

The award panel this year has unanimously nominated Mr. Xu Kuangdi, one of the prominent national leaders and the ex-Mayor of Shanghai, as the recipient of the ChinaLink Outstanding Achievement Award. David Tinsley, Chair of the Award Panel, said the award to Mr. Xu was “in acknowledgement of his personal effort in the development and establishment of the Liverpool-Shanghai sister city relationship and contribution to UK- China business co-operation.”

The sister city relationship was formally established when Mr. Xu  and Mr. Mike Storey CBE, ex-Leader of the Liverpool City Council, signed the MOU in Shanghai on 18 October 1999. Dr. Kegang Wu, Director of ChinaLink and Liverpool Chamber’s International Business Division, who was instrumental in facilitating the successful twinning in 1999 and has been a driving force for many initiatives between the two cities in the last 8 years, said “Since 1999 the co-operation between Liverpool and Shanghai has spanned a wide range of areas such as civic, sport, culture, trade & investment and education. Much was achieved when Shanghai was under Mr. Xu’s leadership, who held the post of Mayor of Shanghai for six years. Although he moved on to a new central government position, the Liverpool-Shanghai relationship has developed from strength to strength.”

Professor Xu is currently the Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

In his acceptance letter to ChinaLink, Professor Xu said “Indeed, it is a great honour for me to receive the award”. Although I have left Shanghai and taken up new posts, my keen interest for the better and stronger relations between Liverpool and Shanghai remains unchanged. I will, as I have always had, still try my very best to promote this good relationship and see it grow from strength to strength”.

The ChinaLink Outstanding Achievement Award is designed to be awarded to an individual or organisation with inspirational achievement, who has made remarkable contribution to the development of business, civic, cultural and other international projects between UK and China.

The award event will be held next Thursday in Liverpool, which will be attended by 200 British businesses actively working between UK and China. Speakers at the event include Ian McCartney MP, Minister of Trade, Investment & Foreign Affairs and Mr. Jianzhong Gong, Chinese Consulate General.

Find out more about the event here. To book a table or seats please contact 0151 224 1876 or email the Chinalink team.