Annual Awards Dinner Honorees Emphasize Economic Cooperation
NEW YORK, November 8, 2012 — Asia Society members gathered here in New York to honor outstanding leaders in their respective fields for the 2012 Awards Dinner. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Washington SyCip, founder of SGV, the largest professional services firm in the Philippines. The recipients of the Global Leadership Award were Honeywell Chairman and CEO David M. Cote and Chairman, CEO, and President of Archer Daniels Midland Company Patricia A. Woertz. The honorees' demonstrated vision, leadership and commitment have earned them global praise and recognition.
In their acceptance speeches shown in the videos embedded below, the honorees discussed their business success in Asia and what they believe economic development in the region will mean for the world.
"Asia is an economic engine of so much opportunity ... in the last 20 years Asian imports have grown at a rate of 14 percent; last year Asia represented more than a third of all of global trade," said Woertz in her acceptance speech, in which she emphasized the importance of global cooperation as Asian countries' economies develop rapidly. "The relations we build today, whether they are trade, whether they are personal, whether they are political — those relations stand to not just benefit us, but benefit many generations to come."
"I'm a big fan of China’s rising prosperity through commercial strength, and what they can do to also increase the prosperity of the world," said Cote upon receiving his award. "We should be a lot more welcoming of China's investment in the U.S. It's good for our economy, and I like the idea of another Chinese voice in Beijing who is able to say something like, "Hey what are you doing? I have a lot of money invested over there." It's much better for us and the world to argue commercially rather than militarily."
The evening also featured a musical performance by Myanmar's legendary composer and percussionist Kyaw Kyaw Naing.
Washington SyCip — founder of SGV, the largest professional services firm in the Philippines — accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Chairman, CEO, and President of Archer Daniels Midland Company Patricia A. Woertz accepts the Global Leadership Award.
Honeywell Chairman and CEO David M. Cote accepts the Global Leadership Award.
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Photos: 2012 Asia Society Annual Awards Dinner