U.S. firms Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and UPS China were given the Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence on Tuesday.

The Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence emphasizes the important role U.S. businesses play to promoting the best practices and good corporate governance, said Clark T. Randt, U.S. Ambassador to China,

According to Randt, MSD China has been working together with the Chinese Ministry of Public Health, helping the government to train healthcare workers and physicians in district hospitals on how to administer antiretroviral drugs.

UPS China has benefited local communities through practical service programs like donations to renovate the premises of the integrated primary and secondary schools in China's poverty-stricken country.

The MSD and UPS China have shouldered social responsibilities and contributed to the community, which made them win the award, Randt said before delivering the awards to the two companies.

"Companies should be responsible for the community in which they live and work," said Richard Loi, senior vice president of UPS China, adding that businesses in China are taking their social responsibilities increasingly seriously.

A Chinese Association For Corporate Social Responsibility (CACSR) will be officially launched in August. It wants firms to take real action such as promoting environmental protection and helping alleviate poverty.

Multinationals such as Nokia, IBM and CISCO, and Chinese companies like the China Pingan Insurance Company, the TCL Corporation, and the China Merchants Bank, are members of CACSR.

Source: Xinhua