Rolls-Royce won the first UK Cathay Pacific award on Thursday, together with two other companies, for its business involvement in China's Hong Kong and mainland.

Rolls-Royce pocketed the Cathay Pacific's Pacific Star Award for merits such as its long-term training and development programs at Chinese academic institutions.

Arup, which provides engineering, design, planning and project management services, was awarded for its nearly 30 years of commitment in China's Hong Kong and mainland, where it has taken part in such projects as the Beijing National Stadium, the Beijing National Swimming Center, the Beijing Olympic Green Convention Center.

Scientific Generic's joint venture SGAI Tech Ltd, which entered Hong Kong two years ago, was awarded for its successful business in technology consultancy and automatic manufacturing partnerships in creating, developing and manufacturing innovative, high-quality products in an "efficient and rapid manner", Philip N L Chen, Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific said.

"Merely a decade ago, Europeans would naturally greet visitors from eastern Asian in Japanese and now 'Nihao' is almost the greeting words instinctively by many Europeans," Chen said. "and the moment I finish my congratulations words at least 500 more mobile phones users will emerge in China, and in this fast developing land, British companies like the award winners today, contribute a lot."

Chen said, Cathay Pacific, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary of its funding and the opening of its route from Hong Kong to London, is very happy to have such big names like Rolls- Royce, Arup and SGAI in its award-winners' list.

The Cathay Pacific China Trader Awards, has been a yearly event ever since its started in 1996, and the airliner also established similar awards in Paris and Rome in 2005.

Source: Xinhua