Barbara Terenzi, president of the San Marino-China Friendship Association, identified youth exchanges, tourism, and cooperation among small and medium-sized businesses as priorities. Student exchanges were particularly important, she said, noting that five students and a teacher from San Marino travel to Shanghai each year for a summer exchange program.
Ashish Maskay and Justin O'Jack, both honorary foreign members of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, spoke at the meeting about what a people-centered city means to them.
"The best way to understand a people-centered city is to walk the streets of Shanghai, try the food, breathe the air, and talk to local people," said Maskay, a surgeon at Shanghai United Family Hospital and a recipient of the Shanghai Magnolia Gold Award.
Shanghai began honoring expats with the Magnolia Silver Award in 1989 to recognize their contributions to the city, introduced the Gold Award in 1992, and honorary citizenship in 1997.
