Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presents the Medal of the Republic to Zhong Nanshan during a meeting commending role models in the country's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
Xi said China has achieved another heroic feat in humankind's fight against disease by securing major strategic achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.
Xi presented medals to recipients of the Medal of the Republic and the national honorary title, including renowned respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan.
Xi summarized the features of China's spirit in combating the COVID-19 epidemic as -- putting people's lives first, nationwide solidarity, sacrifice, respecting science and a sense of mission for humanity.
BEIJING, Sept. 8 -- President Xi Jinping on Tuesday hailed China's great spirit of battling the COVID-19 epidemic as the country's model virus fighters were accorded grand state honors.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that over the past eight-plus months, China has fought a fierce war against the epidemic and has passed the extraordinary test of history.
He called for transforming the virus-fighting spirit into tremendous strength to build a modern socialist country and achieve national rejuvenation.
Xi made the comments during a meeting held at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing that was attended by about 3,000 people.
He presented the Medal of the Republic to the 84-year-old renowned respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan and the medals of the national honorary title to three other medical professionals.
An official statement described Zhong as a leading expert in China's respiratory disease research and called him a "brave, outspoken and responsible doctor" who proposed epidemic prevention and control measures that saved numerous lives and made a great contribution to fighting both SARS and COVID-19.
Speaking at the event, Zhong pledged to cooperate with colleagues around the country and the world to continue working on tracing virus sources, blocking transmission routes, and developing rapid diagnosis, medicines and vaccines
"HEROIC FEAT"
Speaking of the anti-epidemic battle, Xi said China has achieved another heroic feat in humankind's fight against disease by securing major strategic achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.
The country managed to contain the rapid spread of the virus in just over a month. In about two months, the daily increase in domestic coronavirus cases fell to single digits. Meanwhile, a decisive victory was secured in once the hardest-hit Chinese city of Wuhan in just about three months. Besides, the country has effectively contained sporadic outbreaks.
Xi said the CPC Central Committee had adopted "extraordinary measures" to tackle the COVID-19 epidemic, and had insisted on making people's lives and health the first priority.
All-out efforts were made to ensure that not a single patient was left unattended. And the cost of treating COVID-19 patients was fully covered by the government, he added.
Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, China has effectively curbed the spread of the virus and protected people's lives and health to the greatest extent, Xi said.
Through a united will, the Chinese people put up a strong defense to contain the epidemic, Xi noted.
