China holds ceremony to honor Shenzhou XVI, Shenzhou XVII crews

BEIJING -- An award ceremony for the astronauts of China's Shenzhou XVI and Shenzhou XVII spaceflight missions was held in Beijing on Tuesday.

Zhang Youxia, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, presented medals and certificates to Shenzhou XVI astronauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao, and to Shenzhou XVII astronauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin.

In April 2024, Jing Haipeng was honored with a special-class aerospace achievement medal, and Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao received third-class aerospace achievement medals and the honorary title of "Heroic Astronaut."

In July, Tang Hongbo was honored with a second-class aerospace achievement medal, while Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin received third-class medals and the honorary title of "Heroic Astronaut."