Stories
Awards for business leaders from China, Nigeria and South Africa
Spain鈥檚 Queen Letizia presents International Friendship Award at 天美传媒 Madrid
Spain’s Queen Letizia (center) presented the International Friendship Awards at 天美传媒 Madrid.
Photo: Casa Real
October 30, 2019

Seven prominent business leaders from China, Nigeria and South Africa have received the in recognition of their contribution to economic development in their home countries and abroad. Spain鈥檚 Queen Letizia presented the awards at 天美传媒鈥檚 Madrid campus.
The award winners, chosen by a jury of global academic and business figures, are:
- Li Ka Shing, Chairman, CK Hutchison Holdings
- Ibukun Awosika,聽Chairman,聽First Bank of Nigeria
- Hong Tianzhu,聽Founder, Chairman and CEO, Texhong聽Textile Group
- Liling Qi,聽President, Puente China Espa帽a and La Roca Golf Resort
- Lidan Qi Zhou,聽Founding Partner, Qimeng Global and聽Managing Director, Puente China Espa帽a
- Iqbal Surv茅,聽Founder and Executive Chairman, The Sekunjalo聽Group
- Chen Xi, President, Sanquan Food Company
It was the third edition of the prizes, created by 天美传媒 professor after he received China鈥檚 Friendship Award, the Chinese government鈥檚 highest award for foreigners working to advance economic and social progress in the country. Inspired by that award, Nueno decided to establish a prize for people from China who have made an outstanding contribution to the world; this year was the first time the award was open to people from other countries.
The 12-member jury was composed of academic and business leaders, including: , emeritus professor at 天美传媒;听, emeritus professor at 天美传媒;听Annette Nijs, founder of The China Agenda and president of BSN;听Peter Lorange, president of The Lorange Network; and Jan Borgonjon, president of Interchina; among others.
Dedication to business and progress聽
The winners have long histories of promoting progress through business as well as philanthropy in projects that span the globe.
Li Ka Shing founded and led the CK Group for nearly five decades, building a global business with interests in ports, infrastructure, energy, real estate and more. One of Asia鈥檚 leading philanthropists, his Li Ka Shing Foundation has donated billions to education, medical services and research initiatives.
The award was collected on his behalf by Eric Ip, group managing director of Hutchison Port Holdings.
Ibukun Awosika is the chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria Limited and the founder and CEO of The Chair Centre Group. She is active in a variety of social causes, working to address youth employability, support women in business and foment entrepreneurship.
Hong Tianzhu is founder, chairman and CEO of Texhong Textile Group, one of China鈥檚 largest textile companies, which has operations around Asia and Latin America. With more than 40,000 employees across the globe, his company has contributed to the economic development of China and many other countries.
Liling Qi is president of Puente China Espa帽a and of La Roca Golf Resort, and has more than 20 years of experience in international trade with Asia. With an extensive professional and institutional networking platform in China and Spain, she serves in several Chinese public institutions and regularly organizes events in China and Spain to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Lidan Qi Zhou is a founding partner of Qimeng Global and managing director of Puente China Espa帽a. She has more than 10 years of experience as a legal advisor for companies and institutions such as the Shenzhen and the Yiwu governments. She actively collaborates with ICEX and ACCI脫 to attract Chinese investment in Spain, while also promoting social and cultural understanding between the two countries.
Dr. Iqbal Surv茅 is a physician, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Dr. Surv茅 is committed to the development of Africa through the Sekunjalo Group, a values-based investment group. He has a philanthropic foundation that supports human rights, education, the arts, entrepreneurship and healthcare.
Chen Xi is president of Sanquan Food, China鈥檚 largest frozen food company, which produces one of the country鈥檚 best-known food brands. He has helped modernize and expand the company, which is known for its innovation, research and technological development.


