USCN Outstanding Contribution Award Ceremony

US CHINA OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD

US China Business Association (USCN) awarded six outstanding figures at its award ceremony held at Antai College of Economics and Management of Shanghai Jiaotong University in the afternoon of May 22nd, 2011.

At the opening speech, Colin Wu, the Executive Vice Chairman of USCN and moderator of today's event, introduced to the audience the backgrounds of the individuals who won the prestigious award of 2010.

They are: Henry Kissinger, Maurice Greenberg and Abiola Akintola from the United States, and Huang Yongyu, Gao Qunyao and Deng Tao from China.

They have made outstanding contribution in their fields of diplomacy, economy, art and culture, public media, manufacturing, marketing and creative design, that have transformed the relationship between the U.S. and China, the ways we work and live today. They were recommended by influential figures in the U.S. and China.

Mr. Timothy Preheim, Dean of Illinois Institute of Technology Stuart Graduate School of Business, and Mr. Gao Qunyao, Senior Vice President of News Corp., made keynote speeches.

USCN 2010 Outstanding Contribution Award Winners: 
Henry A. Kissinger, Maurice Greenberg, Huang Yongyu

US China Outstanding Contribution Award in Diplomacy:

Henry A. Kissinger is a well-known American political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. A recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, he served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. During 1969 and 1977, he pioneered the policy of détente with the Soviet Union, orchestrated the opening of relations with the People's Republic of China, and ended American involvement in the Vietnam War.

Kissinger has unique strategic vision and profound historical insight, he creatively put forward the theory of the global balance of power.

Dr. Kissinger maintains a healthy, close personal friendship with four generations of Chinese leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. From his first mysterious ice-breaking trip to China in 1971 to his recent visit commemorating 40th anniversary of President Nixon's visit to China, he has visited China more than 70 times. All leaders in China highly commend Dr. Kissinger for his significant contribution to the improvement and development of the Sino-US China relations.

US China Outstanding Contribution Award in Financial Services:

Maurice R. "Hank" Greenberg is an American businessman and former chairman and CEO of American International Group (AIG), was the world's 18th largest public company and its largest insurance and financial services corporation.  

He is currently chairman and CEO of C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. (C.V. Starr), a diversified financial services firm that is named for the founder of AIG, Cornelius Vander Starr. He joined C.V. Starr as Vice President in 1960 and was given the additional responsibilities of President of American Home Assurance Company in 1962. He was elected Director of C.V. Starr in 1965, Chairman and Chief Executive officer in 1968 and continues in that role. Mr. Greenberg is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Managing Director of Starr International Company Inc., and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starr International USA, Inc. (Starr International USA). C.V. Starr and Starr International USA are collectively known as Starr Companies..

US China Outstanding Contribution Award in Arts & Cultures

Huang Yongyu is a Chinese master artist, best known for his woodblock prints, sculptures, Chinese ink paintings and literary works. Huang is prolific in both arts and writing, he has published numerous volumes of poems, essays, novels, screenplays, collections of his artworks and photo albums.

As eccentric as he is, the pike-smoking artist did not receive formal training in art and literature. Evidently, he is not constrained in any ways in his creation of artworks and literary works. Huang excelled in woodblock prints when young, most notably with bold lines and boisterous and unconventional style. His masterpieces of woodblock prints are Ahshima and Spring Tide, which are highly claimed by fellow artists at home and abroad. His Chinese ink paintings are also unique and bold, with humors and satires manifested and implied. He never yields to the pressure, even from the government, long before he ascended to the stardom. He would mock challenges and pressures from without while indulging in the creation of another masterpiece. He has had art exhibitions at museums of many countries around the world.

Huang travels worldwide. He has residences in China and Italy. His Ten Thousand Lotus Pond on the eastern outskirts of Beijing is a popular hideout for elites and literati. 

USCN 2010 Outstanding Contribution Award Winners:
Abiola Akintola, Douglas Jackson, Gao Qunyao and Deng Tao

US China Outstanding Contribution Award in Arts

Abiola Akintola is a true hybrid of different art generations. Works by Abiola provoke contemplation of the recent past, the fleeting present and the unknown future. His works delve into multiple layers of meanings and virtual plays to create mystic auras and positive vibrations. In his works viewers enter a different realm of consciousness; a synchronistic and revelatory world of energy, spirit and emotion where spontaneous improvisation, music and poetry are the language spoken.

A resident of suburban Chicago, he is considered as one of the most innovative and dynamic artist in the art scene today. His works which evoke feelings of passion and spirituality, are an exploration into subtleties and nuances of male/female and human relationship, with creative forces that drive other art forms such as classical and jazz music.

Abiola is an artist who has found his own unique style for which he has been known as “The Green Revolution Artist” as he tries to make his environment cleaner by collecting soda cans he picks up on the street, shred them manually and then use them for his creations.

His works has been exhibited and collected extensively throughout Europe, the United States, Asia and Africa. His 2008 work "Beyond Parameters" was placed second in the United States Olympic Committee Sports and Art Contest organized by the United States Sports Academy. He served on the voting committee for the International Olympic Committee Sport and Art Contest in Lausanne, Switzerland. His portrait of President Obama in 2008 has won adherence by many collectors. 

US China Outstanding Contribution Award in Public Media

Jack Gao is a well-known self-made businessman, typical of the Chinese-style traverse to success. He became one of the first batch college students when China reinstituted college entrance exam in late 1970s. He was awarded bachelor and master degree in mechanic engineering at the Harbin Institute of Technology. He went to the U.S. in 1985 to pursue his doctorate degree in engineering mechanics. In 1999, he was appointed to the position of general manager of Microsoft (China), and six months later he was promoted to be the President. He returned to Autodesk in June 2003 and served as the president of the Greater China region. By 2006, Jack Gao started working for the News Corporation, and served as its Global Vice President and CEO of STAR (China). STAR Media has a coverage of 53 countries in Asia, England and the USA with 300 million audience.

US China Outstanding Contribution Award in Creative Design

Deng Tao is a famous Chinese tourist souvenir designer. He advocates diversity in promoting city image, and is skillful in blending the unique urban culture into tourist souvenirs. Tourist souvenir builds up to the culture of a city. As the first World Leisure Expo gift planner general, he is responsible for the creation and production of all gift items, imparting Chinese culture to the United States and the world over.  Over 100 of gift items designed by him are collected by Hangzhou West Lake Expo Museum, the first theme museum to specialize expositions. For five consecutive years, he is the only person of his industry to be included in the Chinese Business Annual. He is been interviewed by many major Chinese and American media outlets. He is adviser to many tourist cities and counties, and has become indispensible their publicity and development.