[h=2]Singapore's founding Prime Minister and former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was on Thursday presented with the Business China Lifetime Achievement Award in celebration of his upcoming 90th birthday on September 16.[/h]
Chairman of Business China and President of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan associations, Chua Thian Poh addresses the guests. (Photo: Siti Nur Mas Lina, channelnewsasia.com)
From left: Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Chairman of Business China and President of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan associations Chua Thian Poh, Lee Hsien Yang and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. (Photo: Siti Nur Mas Lina, channelnewsasia.com)
Lee Hsien Yang (L) receiving the commemorative book "Lee Kuan Yew and Singapore-China Relations" from Business China Chairman Chua Thian Poh. (Photo: Siti Nur Mas Lina, channelnewsasia.com)
Chairman of Business China Chua Thian Poh with the commemorative books "Lee Kuan Yew and Singapore-China Relations", launched to honour Mr Lee's extraordinary contributions to establishing and strengthening Singapore-China bilateral ties. (Photo: Siti Nur Mas Lina, channelnewsasia.com)
Dinner is being served at the celebratory event for Mr Lee's 90th birthday as well-wishes from the guests are projected on screens. (Photo: Siti Nur Mas Lina, channelnewsasia.com)
Guests toasting to Lee Kuan Yew at the celebratory dinner for his 90th birthday. (Photo: Siti Nur Mas Lina, channelnewsasia.com)
prevnextTHUMBNAIL
SINGAPORE: Singapore's founding Prime Minister and former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was on Thursday presented with the Business China Lifetime Achievement Award in celebration of his upcoming 90th birthday on September 16.
The award was presented at a celebratory dinner organised by three major Chinese community organisations -- the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Business China.
The event was an occasion to remember and recognise many of the initiatives which Mr Lee had launched over the years to support the Chinese community in Singapore.
Mr Lee had wanted to attend the event, but his doctors have advised him to avoid large gatherings as a precautionary health measure.
Mr Lee's second son, Lee Hsien Yang, represented his father at the celebration. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is currently away in Russia for the G20 Summit.
Speaking to some 800 business and political leaders at the event, the chairman of Business China and president of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, Chua Thian Poh, said the 'Singapore model' developed by Mr Lee has been highly regarded and widely replicated.
The success of this model has helped Singapore play an instrumental role internationally.
Mr Chua noted that among the major initiatives launched by Mr Lee were the Speak Mandarin Campaign, the set-up of the Chinese Development Association and the launch of Business China in 2007.
Business China is an organisation that actively promotes bilingualism and biculturalism.
Mr Chua said for the past six years, Business China had been actively involved in nurturing generations of China-savvy Singaporeans through a range of events and programmes.
He added: "The programme is progressing well; mainly we are grooming a group of youngsters who are bilingual and bicultural, connected with China. In future, this group of people will help us with culture and business.”
Mr Chua also stressed that Business China is now a crucial bridge between Singapore and China.
To celebrate Mr Lee's 90th birthday, Business China launched a commemorative book entitled “Lee Kuan Yew and Singapore-China Relations”.
The book honours Mr Lee's extraordinary contributions to the establishment and strengthening of Singapore-China bilateral ties.
Mr Lee has visited China 33 times since ties were established with China in 1976.
Stephen Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers' Federation, said: "Mr Lee is one of the very few politicians in the world with the opportunity to have personal encounters with five generations of Chinese leaders.
"To that end, Mr Xi Jinping, the current (Chinese) president, regarded Mr Lee as 'our senior who has our respect', and that China 'will never forget the important contribution you have made to our bilateral relationship'."
Thanking the organisers for the award, Mr Lee Hsien Yang recalled that his father had not learnt Chinese as a child. He only took up Mandarin as an adult when he entered politics.
Mr Lee Hsien Yang said: "Because he started learning the language only as an adult, he has struggled to maintain the proficiency he would like to possess of Chinese. To overcome this, he continues to take regular Mandarin lessons at age 90 to keep his hard learned skills alive.
“Learning the language enabled my father to more effectively convey his ideas and rally political support for them. Without that, it would not have been possible (for him to) go down the path that has led Singapore to where it is today.
"It also gave him a window into China and the Chinese world view, building strong foundations for the strong bilateral ties and close cooperation that both counties enjoy today."
The 200-page commemorative book features a collection of 140 photographs, many of which have never been published before.
prevnextTHUMBNAIL
SINGAPORE: Singapore's founding Prime Minister and former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was on Thursday presented with the Business China Lifetime Achievement Award in celebration of his upcoming 90th birthday on September 16.
The award was presented at a celebratory dinner organised by three major Chinese community organisations -- the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Business China.
The event was an occasion to remember and recognise many of the initiatives which Mr Lee had launched over the years to support the Chinese community in Singapore.
Mr Lee had wanted to attend the event, but his doctors have advised him to avoid large gatherings as a precautionary health measure.
Mr Lee's second son, Lee Hsien Yang, represented his father at the celebration. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is currently away in Russia for the G20 Summit.
Speaking to some 800 business and political leaders at the event, the chairman of Business China and president of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, Chua Thian Poh, said the 'Singapore model' developed by Mr Lee has been highly regarded and widely replicated.
The success of this model has helped Singapore play an instrumental role internationally.
Mr Chua noted that among the major initiatives launched by Mr Lee were the Speak Mandarin Campaign, the set-up of the Chinese Development Association and the launch of Business China in 2007.
Business China is an organisation that actively promotes bilingualism and biculturalism.
Mr Chua said for the past six years, Business China had been actively involved in nurturing generations of China-savvy Singaporeans through a range of events and programmes.
He added: "The programme is progressing well; mainly we are grooming a group of youngsters who are bilingual and bicultural, connected with China. In future, this group of people will help us with culture and business.”
Mr Chua also stressed that Business China is now a crucial bridge between Singapore and China.
To celebrate Mr Lee's 90th birthday, Business China launched a commemorative book entitled “Lee Kuan Yew and Singapore-China Relations”.
The book honours Mr Lee's extraordinary contributions to the establishment and strengthening of Singapore-China bilateral ties.
Mr Lee has visited China 33 times since ties were established with China in 1976.
Stephen Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers' Federation, said: "Mr Lee is one of the very few politicians in the world with the opportunity to have personal encounters with five generations of Chinese leaders.
"To that end, Mr Xi Jinping, the current (Chinese) president, regarded Mr Lee as 'our senior who has our respect', and that China 'will never forget the important contribution you have made to our bilateral relationship'."
Thanking the organisers for the award, Mr Lee Hsien Yang recalled that his father had not learnt Chinese as a child. He only took up Mandarin as an adult when he entered politics.
Mr Lee Hsien Yang said: "Because he started learning the language only as an adult, he has struggled to maintain the proficiency he would like to possess of Chinese. To overcome this, he continues to take regular Mandarin lessons at age 90 to keep his hard learned skills alive.
“Learning the language enabled my father to more effectively convey his ideas and rally political support for them. Without that, it would not have been possible (for him to) go down the path that has led Singapore to where it is today.
"It also gave him a window into China and the Chinese world view, building strong foundations for the strong bilateral ties and close cooperation that both counties enjoy today."
The 200-page commemorative book features a collection of 140 photographs, many of which have never been published before.
