President Xi Jinping presented national medals and honorary titles of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to awardees in the Great Hall of the People on Sunday morning.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, helped the awardees wear the medals and shook hands with them.
Addressing the event, Xi conveyed congratulations and respect to heroes and role models who received the Medal of the Republic and the honorary titles, and foreign friends who received the Friendship Medal.
Noting that the awardees are outstanding representatives of the people who contributed to the cause of the Party and the people, Xi said their deeds and contributions will always be marked in the history of the PRC.
When people respect and advocate heroes, more heroes will come to the fore, Xi said, adding that the Party and the state have always attached great importance to honoring heroes and role models.
"Today, we honor these heroes and role models with the highest standards to promote their qualities of loyalty, perseverance and humbleness," he said.
Xi stressed their loyalty to the cause of the Party and the people, their dedication to hard work for decades in a row in the fields where the Party and the people need them most, and their humbleness to make huge sacrifice at ordinary job posts without pursuing fame or self-interests.
"Heroes and role models once again demonstrate with their actions that greatness comes out of the ordinary," Xi said, adding that adhering to firm ideals and convictions and working tirelessly to have their jobs done, every ordinary person can have an extraordinary life and every ordinary job can produce extraordinary achievements.
He encouraged the awardees to cherish the honor and influence more people with their strong faith, belief and confidence.
"We have sincere gratitude to the recipients of the Friendship Medal for their contribution to China's development," said Xi, adding that Chinese people are willing to work with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity and to make the planet a better place.
