FIFTY people from 19 countries were presented with the Magnolia Silver Award yesterday in recognition of their contribution to the city’s development.

Among the recipients were Frenchman Pascal Yves Joseph Metivier, Research and Innovation director of Belgian chemical company Solvay (China) Co.

“Shanghai’s robust growth has benefited from many international friends’ wisdom and hard work, and your contribution and friendship will always be remembered by people of Shanghai,” Zhang Xiaosong, director-general of the city’s foreign affairs office, said when he presented the awards.