Xi awards ‘ordinary heroes’ at centenary event

Beijing, Jun 29 (EFE).- China’s president on Tuesday presented the July 1 Medal to 29 “ordinary heroes” of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for their “quiet contributions” to the Chinese Communist cause.

The party will mark the centenary of its founding on July 1.

At a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi Jinping, also the secretary general of the CPC Central Committee, urged party members to “boldly advance toward the second centenary goal of fully building a modern socialist country, as well as the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation,” which the party uses to stay in power.

Xi described the awards recipients as “ordinary heroes that fulfill their duties and make quiet contributions,” adding that “their deeds can be followed and their spirit can be pursued,” state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

Among them are Korean War veterans; Chen Hongjun, who was killed in June 2020 in a border clash with India; diplomat Liu Guijin, known for his role in promoting China’s relations with African countries, and journalist Qu Duyi, who set up Xinhua’s bureau in Moscow.

Xi also awarded representatives of ethnic minority groups, including a Uighur official praised for fighting separatism and a Tibetan woman who he credited with guiding the people to follow the party.

Chinese cities have been decorated during recent weeks to commemorate the centenary, with large fireworks and floral displays and red banners, propaganda campaigns and the inauguration of museums on the history of the party which, nonetheless, leave out dark episodes in its history including the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. EFE

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