To motivate people outside Suzhou to participate in the city's economic and social development 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 (previously 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 in 1995, Suzhou started to confer the title of honorary citizen to foreign nationals who made prominent contributions to Suzhou’s economic and social development and international exchanges and cooperation. As of 2019, a total of 115 candidates received the title of honorary citizen.
Among the honorary citizens of Suzhou, some are scientists who made remarkable contributions to the scientific and technological growth of China, some are entrepreneurs who devoted a lot to Suzhou’s economic and social development, some are friendly people who played a major role in developing friendly relations between Suzhou and foreign governments, and some are local residents from Suzhou’s sister cities who have long been offering pecuniary support to students from Suzhou.
In 2004, Suzhou started to give a new award -- The Friend of Suzhou Honorary Award to overseas Chinese, compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau, and foreign nationals for their positive contributions to Suzhou’s economic and cultural development, international exchanges and public-interest undertakings. As of 2019, a total of 135 candidates were granted the Friend of Suzhou Honorary Award.
Through giving Honorary Citizen of Suzhou and Friend of Suzhou Honorary Award, Suzhou will strive to deepen cooperation and exchanges with countries and regions across the world and enhance foreign residents engagement with public-interest undertakings in Suzhou.
