SHANGHAI, China. June 25, 2007 -- The China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) today awarded a Medal of Honor to His Royal Highness King Juan Carlos I of Spain, who visited the Shanghai campus of China’s top-rated business school as part of a five-day visit to China. The King was accompanied by Queen Sophia and an entourage of Spanish business leaders.
In accepting the medal, His Majesty spoke of the vital role that CEIBS has played in fostering China-Spain relations. “I am grateful for the door CEIBS has created to Spain since its opening in 1994,” said the King. “The school produces top-grade professionals with an excellent background in China. They are experts in business with hands-on knowledge of China’s business world.” Calling CEIBS “a school of future leaders,” he added that the school now enjoys an excellent reputation among recruiters within the Spanish government and Spanish companies.
His Majesty also congratulated CEIBS on its successful efforts to build positive relations with Spanish enterprises and the country’s government. These relationships, he said, have fostered the growth of the Spanish community in China. In Shanghai alone, the number of Spanish companies has increased from roughly 60 in 2003 to 250 this year. He added that not only are business ties growing but academic ties and cultural and artistic ties are also expanding. Meanwhile the Chinese community is Spain’s fastest growing international group, giving Spain one of the biggest Chinese communities in Europe, His Majesty said.
Though pleased by the strengthening of bilateral ties, His majesty expressed hope that further progress will be made. “Commercial exchanges have grown, but there is still so much to do. The data is exciting, but it is not enough,” he said. He concluded by pledging his continued commitment to CEIBS, saying that the school’s continued successes benefit both China and Spain.
CEIBS top administrative leadership, faculty, and students came out in force to officially welcome the royal couple. In his welcome address, CEIBS President Zhu Xiaomin commended the Spanish government and businesses on their significant contributions to the school’s development and successes. The Spanish government and Spanish businesses, have been the school’s most generous international supporter, he said.
Afterwards, CEIBS Executive President Pedro Nueno introduced highlights of the school’s history and detailed the continued strong support CEIBS has received from Spain. Several of the school’s Spanish professors and students shared first-hand experiences in the expansion of Spanish-Chinese ties.
The event concluded with the presentation of the Medal of Honor to King Juan Carlos I from CEIBS Executive President Pedro Nueno.
CEIBS’ role in developing Spain-China ties
Today’s visit to CEIBS by King Juan Carlos I of Spain follows on visits to the campus from Prince Felipe of Spain in 2006 and Queen Sophia of Spain in 2003. Earlier this year, on April 3, CEIBS was visited by Spanish Vice President Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega to sign agreement expanding upon a partnership between ICEX (the Spanish Institute of External Commerce), Spain’s National Association for Promotion of Foreign Investment (Interes), and CEIBS. The cooperation, which received a donation of 100,000 Euro from the two Spanish partners, will focus on further developing the business school’s Centre for Entrepreneurship.
For more information, contact CEIBS External Communications Director Laurie Underwood at (0821) 2890-5505 or lunderwood@ceibs.edu
