BEIJING: China has passed an extraordinary and historic test with its handling of the coronavirus, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday at an awards ceremony for medical professionals.
President Xi handed out gold medals to four heroes from the medical field in front of hundreds of applauding delegates for their efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.
“We have passed an extraordinary and historic test,” Xi said, praising the country for a heroic struggle against the disease. “We quickly achieved initial success in the people’s war against the coronavirus. We are leading the world in economic recovery and in the fight against Covid-19.”
The lavish ceremony in the Great Hall of the People began with a minute’s silence for those who lost their lives during the outbreak.
The four awardees included 83-year-old respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan – the country’s most famous medical expert who emerged as the face of China’s fight against the contagion.
READ MORE: China, Pakistan complete nuclear technology experiment in Karachi