Five cultural figures awarded national medals, honorary titles
China DailyArchaeologist Fan Jinshi arrives at the Great Hall of the People, Sept 29, 2019. President Xi Jinping presented national medals and honorary titles of the People's Republic of China 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. The red and golden Medals of the Republic were awarded to individuals who made great contributions to the construction and development of the People's Republic of China, while the golden and blue Friendship Medals represented the long-standing friendship between the people of China and the rest of the world. Of the 42 individuals on the list, five are from the art and culture sector, including Chinese writer Wang Meng, Chinese actress Qin Yi, Chinese singer Guo Lanying, Chinese archaeologist Fan Jinshi and Sinologist Galina Kulikova.