To motivate the people from outside of Suzhou to participate in the city’s financial and social advancement in a more thorough fashion, the municipal government proposes to include foreign nationals, compatriots from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, overseas Chinese and people outside Suzhou on the candidate list of Suzhou Honorary Citizen, and the awarding ceremony will be held once a year (formerly held on a biennial basis).
Among the three foreign-related awards, namely Honorary Citizen of Suzhou, Friend of Suzhou Honorary Award, and Friend of Suzhou Memorial Award, the title of Honorary Citizen of Suzhou is the highest city honor.
Back to 1995, Suzhou began to give the title of the honorary citizen to foreign nationals who made prominent contributions to Suzhou’s economic and social advancement and international exchanges and cooperation. Since 2019, a total of 115 candidates got the title of honorary citizen.
Amongst the honorary citizens of Suzhou, some are scientists who made exceptional contributions to the scientific and technological development of China, some are business owners who devoted a lot to Suzhou’s economic and social development, some are friendly individuals who played a significant function in establishing friendly relations between Suzhou and foreign local governments, and some are local residents from Suzhou’s sister cities who have long been offering monetary support to students from Suzhou.
In 2004, Suzhou started to give a brand-new award– The Friend of Suzhou Honorary Award to abroad Chinese, compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau, and foreign nationals for their favorable contributions to Suzhou’s economic and cultural advancement, international exchanges, and public-interest undertakings. As of 2019, a total of 135 candidates were granted the Friend of Suzhou Honorary Award.
By offering the Honorary Citizen of Suzhou and Friend of Suzhou Honorary Award, Suzhou will aim to deepen cooperation and exchanges with nations and regions across the world and enhance foreign citizens engagement with public-interest undertakings in Suzhou.