Chinese entrepreneur Tan Xuguang from Shandong province received the Leonardo International Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to economic exchanges between China and Italy at the Palazzo Barberini in Rome on March 20.

As a category of the Leonardo Award, the most influential award among Italian companies to recognize the economic person of the year, the Leonardo International Award is given to a foreigner in Italy who made great efforts to promote bilateral exchanges in areas such as the economy and technology.

Tan, chairman of Chinese heavy-truck and components developer and manufacturer Weichai Group and Italian yacht-maker Ferretti Group, is the only foreign entrepreneur to get the award of this kind, showing the influence and competiveness of Chinese companies on the international stage.

According to Tan, Weichai will facilitate Ferretti, the world's largest luxury yacht manufacturer, to enter into China's marine market through strategic restructuring and promote the high-quality transformation of Shandong's marine economy.

In 2018, Weichai Group's revenue exceeded 230 billion yuan ($34.42 billion), 40 percent of which came from overseas markets, making itself a well-known Chinese manufacturer in international markets.

Chinese entrepreneur Tan Xuguang from Shandong province receives the Leonardo International Award at the Palazzo Barberini in Rome on March 20. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Leonardo International Award, given to Chinese entrepreneur Tan Xuguang this year. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]