Xi confers top honors on heroes, role models

Adhering to firm ideals and convictions and working tirelessly to fulfill their role, every ordinary person can have an extraordinary life and every ordinary job can produce extraordinary achievements, Xi said.

He encouraged the awardees to cherish the honor and influence more people with their strong faith, belief and confidence.

Also, he said, "We have sincere gratitude for the recipients of the Friendship Medal for their contribution to China's development", adding that the Chinese people are willing to work with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind and make the planet a better place.

Huang Xuhua, chief designer of China's first generation of nuclear submarines, delivered a speech at the ceremony on behalf of those awarded the Medal of the Republic.

Huang said the medal is not just for him but for everyone who dedicated their career to Chinese submarines.

"My colleagues and I have dedicated our whole lives to our motherland, and we have nothing to regret," he said, receiving warm applause from the audience.

On behalf of those awarded the Medal of Friendship, Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn said all six foreign awardees are "indeed friends of China" who would like to contribute to friendship between their countries and China.

"Distance cannot separate true friends, who remain close even when thousands of miles apart," she said, citing the words of Zhang Jiu­ling, a renowned poet of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).