BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded medals and honorary titlesto an array of domestic and international “heroes” on Sunday, including aformer French prime minister and a centenarian Canadian educator.
The award ceremony is part of China’s celebrations to mark 70 years ofCommunist rule, which will kick off on Tuesday with a massive militaryparade in Beijing aimed at showcasing the country’s emergence as a globalsuperpower.
“The heroes and role models are all devoted to the cause of the Party andthe people… and hold fast to working for the happiness of the Chinesepeople,” said Xi in a speech following the presentation of awards.
Isabel Crook, a Canadian anthropologist and educator born in 1915, was theoldest awardee present and had lived in China since before the founding ofthe People’s Republic in 1949, according to official news agency Xinhua.
Born in the southwest city of Chengdu, the centenarian made “outstandingcontributions in the cause for China’s education and friendly exchangeswith foreign countries,” Xinhua reported.
Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, an “old friend of theChinese people”, was recognised for his “long-term commitment to promotingChina-France friendship”, said Xinhua.
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Other international awardees included former Cuban president Raul Castroand Thai princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
A total of 42 individuals were given awards, though only 29 recipients werepresent at the ceremony.
Tu Youyou, the first Chinese citizen to receive the Nobel Peace Prize forhelping create anti-malaria medicine, was among the list of Chineseawardees, as well as Yu Min, a nuclear physicist widely regarded as the”father of China’s hydrogen bomb.” -APP/AFP
