Zhou Haihong was awarded the rank of Officer of the French National Medal of Merit.

French Ambassador to China Gu Shan (left) and Zhou Haihong (right) , former Senior Vice President of Lafarge Ryan

   On November 20, 2014, Mr. Gu Shan, the French Ambassador to China, held a ceremony at his residence for Ms. Zhou Haihong, the former senior vice president of Lafarge Ryan, to award her the rank of officer. This honor is a recognition of Ms. Zhou Haihong's outstanding contribution to strengthening the friendship between France and China in the field of economy and trade and her personal qualities. Mr. Xue Jinhua, Senior Vice President of Lafarge Ryan, Mr. Kong Xiangzhong, Vice President of China Cement Association, Mr. Xu Yongmo, Vice President of China Building Material Federation and other industry leaders, as well as some representatives of Lafarge Ryan colleagues, and Ms. Zhou Haihong's family and friends attended the ceremony to witness the exciting moment.

   Ms. Zhou Haihong joined Lafarge in 1996, and before her retirement in 2012, she had successively served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales in China, the first President of Sichuan Branch, and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Business Development in China. As the first foreign-funded cement enterprise to enter the Chinese market in 1994, Lafarge Group has made outstanding contributions to the steady development of the Chinese market. Adhering to Lafarge's concept of pursuing sustainable development, she also actively promoted the development of the World Cement Sustainable Development Initiative (CSI) in China, and successfully held the first "China Large Cement Enterprise Leaders Roundtable" with China Cement Association. Not only that, she also made her own efforts for China's local cement equipment to go abroad and promote it to Lafarge's other global markets.

French Ambassador Gu Shan congratulated Zhou Haihong .

   At the ceremony, French Ambassador Gu Shan spoke highly of Ms. Zhou Haihong's contribution to China and France in the field of economy and trade, and expressed sincere congratulations.

   In her speech, Ms. Zhou Haihong said: "This is a heavy medal, which embodies the efforts and sweat of many people.". I want to thank Lafarge, my colleagues, industry leaders, friends and family. This hard-won honor belongs to Lafarge, Lafarge people, industry leaders, my friends and family.