China held a meeting on September 8 in Beijing to commend role models in the country's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Chinese President Xi Jinping presented the Medal of the Republic to China's top respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan. Zhong is an alumnus of Peking University who was admitted to then Beijing Medical University (now PKU Health Science Center) in 1955.

“All medical professionals are putting people's lives first and foremost,” Zhong said after receiving the highest state honor for his outstanding contribution to fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. "We must not lower our guard and must finish the battle," Zhong said in a speech at the awarding ceremony.

To learn more about Zhong’s experiences of fighting against the epidemic, please click here.

Edited by: Huang Weijian
Photo Credit to: CCTV, CGTN
Source: CGTN, China Daily, Xinhua Net