During the Purple Mountain Innovation Conference of the 2020 Nanjing Innovation Week on June 22, 15 foreign experts from 13 countries including Canada, Germany, Sweden and Russia were presented with Jinling Friendship Awards, the highest honor issued by the Nanjing government to foreigners.

Among them is Japanese director Takeuchi Ryo who has been devoted to telling foreigners the story of China over the years and is active in promoting Sino-Japan friendship and exchanges. His short documentary about Nanjing's battle against the COVID-19 has gone viral at home and abroad.

Stefan Koss of Germany is the senior vice president and chief financial officer of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Greater China Area. The award recognized his years of efforts to promote investment in Nanjing and accelerate the application of Germany’s unique dual system of vocational training in the company.

The other winner, Richard Horace Sears from the United States, has lived in China for many years and is now an expert of Nanjing Retinar Information Technology, an AI solution provider, since 2019. He is a popular researcher of Chinese characters, nicknamed 'Uncle Hanzi,' and has built a database of oracle bone inscriptions since 1990s. His website about Chinese characters, an effort of over 30 years, is a treasure trove for lovers of the ancient language from all over the world.

So far, 70 foreign experts have won this award since it was initiated by the local government in 2007.

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