Foreign academics among honorary citizens of Hangzhou

On Sept. 5, five winners for "Honorary citizens of Hangzhou" were announced on 2018 Hanzhou International Day. ZJU Professor Dr. Therese Hesketh and Associate Professor Dr.Imran were awarded the titles of "2018 Honorary Citizen of Hangzhou" and "2018 Honorary Citizen Nominee of Hangzhou" awards respectively, in recognition of their contributions to the economic and social development of Hangzhou. So far, only 17 foreign people from all over the world have been awarded the Honorary citizen of Hangzhou.

Prof.Therese Hesketh from UK, Ph.D Supervisor, deputy director of the Global Health Center of ZJU School of Medicine, director of the Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, and Professor at the Institute of Global Health, University College London.

Associate Prof. Dr. Imran from Pakistan, first ever full-time foreign faculty member of College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Department of Agronomy at ZJU, "Qiushi Elite Young Scholar" and an expert in agriculture. In 2016, he won the Zhejiang University Quality Education award and was also the first prize holder at the third national university young teachers teaching competition all over China representing Zhejiang province and the University. For years he has played an important role in the internationalization of the city, promoting the "Belt and Road" Initiative and cooperation between China and Pakistan.

"Honorary Citizen of Hangzhou" and "Honorary Citizen Nominee of Hangzhou"

These two titles are mainly granted to foreigners, foreign Chinese, overseas Chinese and people from Hong Kong and Macao, and the following conditions are required:

(1) Making outstanding contributions in promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation with the city or in establishing and developing relations with the city's friendly cities;

(2) Making important proposals for formulating economic development strategies, urban and rural planning and major technical policies, protecting the environment and rationally exploiting and utilizing resources for the city, and producing significant economic or social benefits after adoption;

(3) Actively participating in or offering important advisory opinions in the development of the city's cultural, educational, health, sports, tourism undertakings and important scientific research, scientific and technological development, production and construction, and technological transformation projects, and making outstanding achievements in introducing technology and intelligence to the city and training managerial personnel;

(4) Introducing foreign capital into this Municipality or investing in the establishment of "three-capital" enterprises in this Municipality, or the enterprises invested have achieved remarkable results in earning foreign exchange through export;

(5) Enthusiastically subsidizing the development of social welfare undertakings in this city, with relatively large amounts of donated funds and materials or with a relatively large cumulative amount.