President Xi Jinping presented national medals and honorary titles of the People's Republic of China to awardees on September 29. While addressing the event, Xi conveyed congratulations and respect to heroes and role models who received the Medal of the Republic and the honorary titles, and foreign friends who received the Friendship Medal. The following is an edited excerpt of Xi's remarks: 

When people respect and advocate heroes, more heroes will come to the fore.

The Party and the state have always attached great importance to honoring heroes and role models.

Today, we honor these heroes and role models with the highest standards to promote their qualities of loyalty, perseverance and humbleness.

Heroes and role models once again demonstrate with their actions that greatness comes out of the ordinary.

Adhering to firm ideals and convictions and working tirelessly to have their jobs done, every ordinary person can have an extraordinary life and every ordinary job can produce extraordinary achievements.

Chinese people are willing to work with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity and to make the planet a better place.