With grit and wit, Mr Chua Thian Poh led property group Ho Bee Land to extraordinary business success spanning Singapore, China, Australia, United Kingdom and Europe. Widely successful and respected, Mr Chua earned many accolades distinguishing him as a man of eminent standing in the Chinese and business communities. Most commendable is his heart for promoting social cohesion and seeding cultural exchanges. Mr Chua orchestrated initiatives of significance such as establishing the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Cultural Academy and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, facilitating greater understanding of Singaporean Chinese culture in a multicultural Singapore. Through the establishment of Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations Scholarship and SMU Ho Bee Professorship in Chinese Economy and Business, Mr Chua has played an instrumental role in deepening bilateral ties and bicultural understanding. Mr Chua's tireless endeavours laid the foundation on which future generations can build on to strengthen Singapore-Sino friendship. For such phenomenal role and contributions, Mr Chua deserves the title of excellence.

The Master in Public Administration and Management (MPAM) Programme, administered jointly by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and NUS Business School of the National University of Singapore (NUS), is a strategic initiative deepening academic and cultural exchanges between Singapore and China. MPAM supports Singapore’s significant role in nurturing a global perspective among tomorrow’s decision makers. This high-level 10-month academic programme, conducted in Chinese, has nurtured over 600 senior government officials and state-owned enterprise (SOE) executives from Singapore, China and Asia over the past 10 years. The MPAM facilitates participants’ understanding of business, policy and governance challenges and broadening their outlook on global issues. More importantly, MPAM connects future leaders of the region, while deepening their appreciation of Singapore’s developmental philosophy and unique experiences. For an academic programme that plays a substantive role in talent development, building networks and fostering mutual understanding across Singapore, China and rest of the world, the MPAM programme’s commitment is indeed commendable.

Mr James Ke is a young Singaporean who believes in powering the future through education. His efforts in education and in promoting connections between youths of Singapore and China paved the way for better bilateral understanding and cooperation in the future. Keen to equip children with 21st century competencies and develop children to their fullest potential, Mr Ke brought thriving preschool brand Cherie Hearts to China. He successfully introduced Singapore’s preschool education philosophy and experiences to Chinese families through a network of kindergartens under the Unihearts International Education Group. Mr Ke is also passionate about entrepreneurship and community development. He leveraged his networks in the business communities, clans and associations to facilitate business and cultural exchanges, thereby building closer people-to-people ties between Singapore and China. Mr Ke personally led many ground-up initiatives to support young new immigrants assimilate into Singapore’s culture and participate in the local community. As a successful entrepreneur and community champion committed to strengthening Singapore-China relations, Mr Ke deserves the BCA Young Achiever Award.

In the early years of Singapore-China diplomatic relations, Dr Chen Deming played a major role in establishing the first connections between Singapore and China. Throughout his eminent political career, Dr Chen has been a consistent friend of Singapore, and expanded the sphere of collaboration between the two countries, regularly providing insights and exchanging views with Singapore’s political leaders. He played a pivotal role in Singapore and China’s first government-to-government project, Suzhou Industrial Park, and subsequently championed the Singapore-China Free Trade Agreement. He went on to position Singapore as a strategic hub that Chinese enterprises could leverage on in the process of internationalisation, further enhancing the business links between both countries. Dr Chen’s interest to see Sino-Singapore relations in good order and his contributions to it are rivalled by few.

Since its inception in 2007, the Lien Ying Chow Legacy Fellowship administered by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, has been committed to strengthening Singapore-China bilateral relations by bringing Lien fellows from both nations together through its high-level exchange programme to exchange insights and share knowledge. With a belief that academia generates positive change, the Fellowship empowers its fellows to formulate and present recommendations, on addressing policy and governance issues in China and Singapore. It also seeks to promote mutual understanding in both countries through forums, conferences and public lectures, where the fellows present findings and share expertise. The Lien Ying Chow Legacy Fellowship’s efforts in facilitating academic and cultural exchanges between Singapore and China through the cultivation of people-to-people ties and its contributions to the betterment of both nations are most praiseworthy.

Mr Lee Chee Koon joined CapitaLand in 2007 and was appointed Managing Director of Ascott China in 2009, before becoming Ascott’s CEO in 2013. Ascott’s serviced apartments in China have quadrupled from 5,000 in 2009 to 19,000 today. Mr Lee has been an innovative leader, injecting new vigour as he navigated partnerships and tried out novel ideas, often empowering his team to seize first-mover advantage to accelerate Ascott’s growth. This includes Ascott’s partnership with China’s leading new economy leaders and the launch of new concepts for millennials. With Mr Lee’s belief that one has to do good in order to do well, Ascott has driven many community projects benefitting underprivileged children in China. Mr Lee is open in sharing his knowledge with Singaporeans, and gains business insights from leaders of corporations and start-ups. Ascott’s significant contributions to China through his astute vision and exemplary leadership are inspiration to Singaporeans looking to venture into China.

In an illustrious academic career spanning 50 years, Professor Wang Gungwu has established himself as an eminent and prolific historian as well as an internationally-renowned pioneer expert on overseas Chinese studies. His academic research and methods greatly impacted future researches and strengthened Singapore’s position as an independent resource centre on understanding contemporary China developments. Proficient in English, Chinese and Indonesian, he has promoted the understanding of China to non-Chinese readers through his writings in English. Prof Wang also established scholarships and loan funds to recognise students with excellent academic and research achievements in the area of East Asian studies; as well as assisted those with financial difficulties. Prof Wang remains an active scholar and continues to augment greater understanding between cultures and civilisations.

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Bank of China was formally established in February 1912 following the approval of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. In June 1936, Singapore Branch was set up as BOC’s third overseas branch. Deeply rooted in Singapore for 80 years, BOCSG has served as the Group’s regional business centre in Southeast Asia and promoted the developments of RMB business, commodities business and private banking business in the local market to further strengthen the city state’s status as the international financial centre. In 2011, BOC collaborated with Singapore's Fullerton Financial Holdings to establish the BOC Fullerton Community Bank (中银富登村镇银行), the first of its kind in the country founded by a large Chinese commercial bank with an international partner. The community bank seeks to provide scarce financial services to SMEs, mini business owners, local individuals, and farmers in China's rural communities. Bank of China’s commitment towards the international business community and its efforts in promoting bilateral relations between Singapore and China through the provision of excellent services to the business communities in both countries is highly commendable.

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Based in US and China since 2005, Singaporean Jenny Lee is highly regarded as one of the top venture capitalists in the world. Starting with developing new hardware systems and products, Jenny subsequently ventured into investing in tech gadgets, business services and consumer internet companies. Deeply passionate and armed with the sharp acumen of a professional engineer, Jenny was instrumental to the success of many of the world’s famous technology brand names. Having amassed a broad network of entrepreneurs, investors and tech professionals, she connected start-ups with talent, markets and other investors; and often personally mentored and motivated them. Well sought-after as a speaker, Jenny generously shared her industry knowledge with young entrepreneurs in Singapore and international forums. Her success in the highly competitive field of venture capital demonstrates her exceptional courage and vision; and is a source of inspiration for young Singaporeans who aspire to connect and co-create with China.

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Well-recognised for his contributions towards Singapore-China relations during his tenure as Chairman of China's SASAC, Mr Li Rongrong was a strong supporter and initiator of interaction and collaboration between SASAC and the Singapore business community. Mr Li and his team made frequent visits to Singapore. As a result, SASAC adapted and promoted Singapore’s best practices in corporate governance, and integrated these practices with China’s realities. The extensive knowledge transfer and frequent exchanges between Singapore business leaders and their counterparts in China enhanced mutual understanding and trust, and culminated in a sustainable long term partnership between Singapore and China.

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One of Singapore’s leading multi-national and multi-business conglomerates, Keppel entered the Chinese market in the early 1980s and has built up strong relationships and an excellent track record in China. Across 25 cities in China, it has shared its expertise, experience and technologies, and contributed to advancing sustainable urbanisation and strengthening ties between Singapore and China. Keppel is the leader of the Singapore consortiums for two landmark bilateral projects – the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park and the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City. Beyond business excellence, Keppel is committed to engaging and nurturing the local Chinese community in the cities where it operates through promotion of education, care for the underprivileged, protection of the environment and other philanthropic efforts.

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The only Singaporean singer to be awarded the Best Mandarin Female Singer thrice in the prestigious Golden Melody Awards, Tanya Chua has established a solid reputation as a multi-talented singer songwriter in the Chinese pop music arena. Effectively bilingual, she is the sole Singaporean on the judging panel of China’s hit reality singing competition “Sing My Song” for 2 consecutive years. In 2014, Tanya spearheaded Project WAO (Women as One), teaming up with three other female singers from Taiwan, Hong Kong and China to perform in unison with proceeds benefitting vulnerable women and girls in the Greater China area.

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Dr Liu Thai Ker, hailed as Singapore's 'Father of Urban Planning', has been instrumental in sharing Singapore’s experiences in city planning and urban development with China since the 80s. As a trusted Master Planner, Dr Liu was appointed Chairman of Jury for the Master Plan of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Park and headed a panel of 13 international jurors. He also served as planning advisor to more than 30 cities in China where his concepts and master plans would have touched the lives of more than 50 million urban inhabitants. Being effectively bilingual and bicultural, he is well regarded for his expertise in infusing Chinese cultural elements into contemporary urban planning, to create functional yet aesthetically pleasing designs, while preserving each individual city’s unique character and heritage.

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With a history of more than 100 years, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) has been and still remains as one of the pivotal points of trade, business and relational contacts between Singapore and China. Long before the independence of both countries and formalisation of bilateral ties, the SCCCI, as an overseas-Chinese apex organisation, had journeyed alongside China through the tremulous first half of the 20th century. In 2010, SCCCI set up its Shanghai Representative Office to assist Singapore companies in their forays into the China market. With its consistent efforts over the years as an important communication platform linking Singapore and China, SCCCI has contributed significantly towards the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.

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Singaporean singer songwriter JJ Lin, is an influential figure in the Chinese pop music scene. The two-time winner of the much coveted Golden Melody Awards connects Chinese-speaking communities from all over the world with his music. During the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, he specially composed a song entitled ‘Love and Hope’ and performed at ‘The Giving of Love’, a CCTV charity event dedicated to helping victims of the massive disaster. Through songs composed for public causes as well as personal charitable contributions, JJ has demonstrated his commitment towards bringing joy, dignity and hope to the communities in need and to the community at large; and is an exemplary role model in furthering Singapore-China relations.

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Former Party Secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Mr Liang Baohua, is best known for his role as China’s key representative in spearheading the development of the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (CSSIP). With his extraordinary vision, commitment and determination, Mr Liang led the China team in partnering with the Singapore team to bring about the success of CSSIP, especially during his time as the Party Secretary of the Suzhou City Committee from 1998 to 2000. The project, while often cited as a model industrial park, is most symbolic in pioneering and defining the close relations between Singapore and China. Mr Liang was also the inaugural co-Chairman of the Singapore-Jiangsu Cooperation Council from 2007 to 2010, thereby contributing significantly to collaborative efforts between Jiangsu province and Singapore.

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With a history of 90 years, Lianhe Zaobao is Singapore Press Holdings’ flagship Chinese newspaper with a readership estimated at 750,000. The website zaobao.com has grown to command monthly visitorship of more than 10 million and daily page views exceeding 4 million. In China, it is regarded as one of the most professional media sources, trusted by top policy makers and leading business executives. Lianhe Zaobao contributed significantly towards the strengthening of bilateral ties between Singapore and China by providing a platform for bilateral exchange and knowledge sharing.

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As the Chief Executive Officer and one of the founders of CHARLES & KEITH Group, Mr Charles Wong demonstrated foresight in seizing opportunities to transform a humble local shoe retailer into an international brand. Mr Wong showed his long-term commitment to the unique China market by building a dedicated base in Shanghai. He successfully raised the presence and profile of Singaporean brands in China, with 63 outlets across various cities. His strong commitment towards talent development in China and his charitable contributions to needy communities in China are laudable efforts in fostering Singapore-China relations.

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Acknowledged as Southeast Asia’s father of ophthalmology, Professor Arthur Lim has been advocating the eradication of cataract blindness in China since 1986. Under Prof Lim’s stewardship, more than 5,000 local specialists were trained in the 10 eye centres, which he helped establish across China. This benefitted close to half a million eye patients, who had their visions restored. Through personally providing pro-bono surgeries and donating generously to the eye centres in China, he has enhanced the Singapore-China relations through his keen philanthropic contributions. Held in high regard for his outstanding contributions, Prof Lim was honoured the exemplary “Friendship Award” by the Chinese Government.

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CapitaLand is one of Asia’s largest real estate companies. CapitaLand China, CapitaLand Group’s umbrella brand for its businesses in China, has drawn its blueprints to cover 40 cities and developed over 120 projects in the country. The knowledge sharing and exchange on the urbanisation of China continues to deepen the long-term relations between the two countries. Actualising its commitment to “Building People”, the CapitaLand Hope Foundation has benefitted thousands of underprivileged children.

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Choosing compassion over comfort, Dr Loh Cheng relocated with his family to Yunnan to provide medical education and clinical services to the underprivileged in this second poorest province in China. He bridged multi-lateral ties by connecting international humanitarian groups with the local Chinese authorities to ensure that international aids are provided directly to those needing them most. Dr Loh is the second Singaporean to be conferred the prestigious “Caiyun” Award by the Yunnan Provincial Government in 2012.

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A far-sighted visionary, the 93 year-old shipping magnate of Pacific International Lines pioneered cargo services that brought Chinese goods to the rest of the world in the 1960s. He continues to enhance our bilateral exchange with China by facilitating the visits of Chinese delegations to Singapore. He has given generously to disaster relief and education in Greater China. Despite his success, he remains humble and is well respected by many.

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This prestigious programme grooms China’s future leaders. More than 1000 Chinese government officials have graduated from this unique course that promotes knowledge sharing and cultural exchanges between Singapore and China’s senior government officials in economic and public administration. It is a fertile ground for fostering new initiatives and deepening long-term relations between the two countries.

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A passionate Lianhe Zaobao journalist whose objective and incisive reports on China has won her admiration from readers in Singapore, China and South East Asia. After the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, she was one of the first foreign reporters to enter the epi-centre, Yingxiu Town.

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Through his pioneering business ventures, he paved the way for closer economic cooperation between Singapore and China. He has invested in many cities, and developed the tallest hotel in the 1980s. As a dedicated philanthropist, he has funded the education of many scholars in China who will play a part in the country's development.

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Through this first and largest economic and technology cooperation project, Singapore has successfully transferred her public administration and economic management experience to China, elevating bilateral relations to an unprecedented level.

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Singapore’s music icon is a bilingual and bicultural role model for the young. Her stunning success has lifted the image of Singapore in Greater China. As Mercy Relief’s first Goodwill Ambassador, she helped raise funds for victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and showed that caring goes beyond borders.

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