Elise Donovan Attends "Shentlemen Of The Year 2016" Awards

SHENZHEN, November 17, 2016 – Elise Donovan, Director of BVI House Asia, attended the “Shentlemen of the Year 2016” awards this morning at the Shenzhen International Exchange and Cooperation Gala, held at the Marco Polo Hotel Shenzhen.

Hosted by the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office and organized by the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office Division of Asian Affairs and the Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation (SFIEC), the gala was attended by some 200 Shenzhen city and district leaders, as well as representatives of Shenzhen’s friendship cities, trustees and honorary presidents of SFIEC, business sector representatives, domestic and international artists, and media representatives.

Ms. Donovan was invited to attend the event by the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office because the BVI is an official friendship city of Shenzhen.

The morning began with an address by Xu Qin, Shenzhen’s mayor, followed by an address by Lang Lang, the famous Chinese pianist. City leaders and delegates of Shenzhen’s friendship cities also officially launched the Shenzhen Circle of Friends initiative, which promotes communication among the friendship cities.

The “Shentlemen of the Year 2016” Award Ceremony began with an address by Fu Lang, Vice Chairman of the “Shentlemen of the Year” 2016 Panel and Executive Vice President of the Guangdong Public Diplomacy Association. City leaders and representatives of friendship cities, including Ms. Donovan, attended the event.

“These awards recognize pioneers of international exchange,” said Ms. Donovan. “At a time when  globalisation is under siege, we are happy to support and encourage international communication and dialogue between the BVI, Shenzhen, and China.”

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