Award winners and local officials pose for a group photo at the Jiangsu Friendship Award Ceremony in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu, Sept 26. [Photo/jyt.jiangsu.gov.cn]

The Jiangsu Provincial People's Government awarded 20 foreign experts on Sept 26, appreciating their support to international cooperation and local development.

The highest honor issued for foreigners, the Jiangsu Friendship Award was initiated in 1997, extending admiration to 285 experts for their efforts to educational, cultural, scientific, and economic breakthroughs.

This year’s award mainly went to local school teachers, such as the American Elyn Gregg Cheney Macinnis, who has been working at the Pengcheng Special Education School in Xuzhou for 30 years, sharing her love and care with intellectually deficient children.

Marcel Stive, a distinguished visiting professor at Hohai University, was also an award winner. With expertise in hydraulics, the veteran has devoted himself to developing and protecting China's coastal areas.

With growing concern over competent personnel, Jiangsu has rolled out a variety of methods to attract international talents in recent years. The number of foreigners working in Jiangsu has reached 100,000, and the figure of those dedicated to local educational development has exceeded 8,400.

A certificate issued by the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government to Elyn Gregg Cheney Macinnis, for her sharing love and care with intellectually deficient children in the past 30 years.