Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Honors China’s Rural Teachers

Chinese Internet tycoon Jack Ma gave awards to 100 rural teachers at a star-studded ceremony held at the resort city of Sanya in south China’s Hainan Province on Sunday.

Ma, who started his career as a college lecturer before founding the e-commerce giant Alibaba, expressed his respect and appreciation for the teaching profession, according to a post on Women of China.

"Without rural teachers and the concerted efforts of all of you present here, China's countryside would be laid to waste," he said.

"You have direct influence over more than 40 million children in the countryside, on whom hinges the future of China," Ma added.

The awards, which were set up by a public welfare fund under Ma's name, granted each of the recipients with 100,000 yuan ($16,000).

Alluding to Sanya's hosting of the 2015 Miss World pageant, Ma said that China's rural teachers are the greatest "super models" as they bring hope to rural children. He also pledged to continue facilitating rural education in the country.

Ma previously taught English at Hangzhou Dianzi University for seven years until starting Alibaba. He credited this experience to helping him during the early stages of his business.

In 2006, Ma donated 1 million yuan ($160,000) to his alma mater, Hangzhou Normal University, and initiated a program for training 100 primary school teachers in rural areas.

The teacher awardees hailed from six provinces and autonomous regions across China.

One winner, Liao Zhanfu, was credited for working in a mountainous primary school in south China's Sichuan Province for up to 27 years. His wife, Zhang Xingqiong, also received an award for being a rural teacher for the nearly the same number of years.

Another recipient, Luo Songdi, was hailed for carrying students across the river on the way to school for 16 years.

The ceremony was also attended by many Chinese celebrities including actress Vicky Zhao, pianist Lang Lang and singer Na Ying, who gave a performance at the event.