Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday awarded the Medal of the Republic to Huang Zongde.

Huang Zongde joined the revolution at the age of 17, and fought bravely in the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign, the campaign to suppress bandits in Jiangxi, and the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, earning numerous commendations. He is a war hero who demonstrated courage, resilience, an unyielding spirit and a fearless willingness to sacrifice.

President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presented several medals to recipients of national medals and honorary titles, the highest state honors, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday ahead of the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.