The Communist Party recently awarded 110 Chinese individuals for their "outstanding contributions" to the country's 40-year economic growth, with NBA star Yao Ming and Alibaba founder and billionaire Jack Ma joining the roster. The dignitaries were given medals of honor by President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.
The event commemorated the Communist Party conclave that happened in December 18, 1978, when the late leader Deng Xiaoping announced his campaign to reform and open up the country to the rest of world, writes AFP. This landmark move is credited for China's status as the second largest economy in the world today. The list of 100 Chinese nationals and 10 foreign guests included a mix of entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists, reformists, celebrities, academics, inventors, and farmers.
Jack Ma, China's most celebrated capitalist and founder of e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba Group, was revealed in November to be a member of the Communist Party. Ma has a reported net worth of US$38.4 billion, making him the wealthiest man in the country, while Alibaba is among the ten most valuable firms in the world with a valuation of over US$400 billion. The tycoon's award is expected as he has been a vocal advocate of President Xi's reform policies over the past years, writes Fortune.
One of this most notable contributions is his support of the national security bureau's move to use big data to curb crime in 2016, which entailed building an online surveillance initiative covering China's over 1 billion population. He is also active in President Xi's drive against the growing wealth gap in the country.
Retired NBA player Yao Ming also received a medal for his contributions, particularly as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory group. Other awardees include the "father of hybrid rice" Yuan Longping, Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, Tencent founder Pony Ma, and Baidu CEO Robin Li.
Posthumous awards were handed to the families of aircraft designer Luo Yang, who is credited for the Shenyang J-15 fighter jet, grassroots party cadres Sonam Dajie and Bao Xinmin.
Also awarded were 10 foreigners, including Singapore's late founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, former AIG chairman Maurice Greenberg, and Panasonic founder Konosuke Matsushita. The candidates were reportedly shortlisted based on local recommendations and following a series of reviews.
