China will award the July 1 Medal to model members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Wednesday at an awarding ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, as the Party marks its 105th anniversary of its founding.

The July 1 Medal, established by the CPC Central Committee, is the highest honor in the Party.

Designed with simplicity and solemnity as its core concept, the medal, with red, gold and white as its main colors, adopts such key elements as the Party emblem and the five-pointed star.

The accolade will be granted every five years to celebrate the Party's major anniversaries.

The medal is also the fifth in China's highest order of honor system, in addition to the "Medal of the Republic," the "August 1 Medal," the "Friendship Medal" and the national titles of honor.

Highest honor

One detail of the medal reflects the values it represents. Unlike China's national medals, which are worn on metal chains, the July 1 Medal features a woven fabric ribbon – a design personally proposed by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, serving as a reminder of one's original aspirations and a means to carry forward the spirit of the CPC.

The medal body incorporates multiple symbolic elements: the Party emblem, five-pointed stars, flags, monuments and radiating light, sunflowers, mountains and rivers, and auspicious cloud patterns. Every detail carries layered symbolic connotations.

At its center sits the Party emblem, which represents the CPC's leadership and core position. Surrounding it are sunflower patterns, symbolizing the Party and the whole nation uniting closely around the CPC Central Committee.

Five-pointed stars stand for the noble ideal of communism passed down through generations, while monuments and radiating light reflect the CPC's century-long journey and remarkable achievements.

Mountains and rivers engraved on the medal embody the CPC members' pursuit of serving the country. Flags carry the implication of unremitting struggle for revolutionary ideals under the Party's leadership. As for auspicious clouds, they symbolize national prosperity, harmony and sound development. 

Modest rather than ornate, the medal symbolizes that the Party's highest honor belongs to those who come from the people, remain rooted among the people and devote themselves to serving them.

Passing forward the CPC's original aspiration and vision

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, national leaders have issued important instructions on the country's merit recognition system. They stressed that state and Party honorary titles should guide public values and set role models, fostering a social atmosphere where people admire heroes, learn from role models and strive to be pioneers.

As the supreme honor within the CPC, the July 1 Medal stands at the core of this institutional framework, with clear origins, thoughtful design and profound symbolic meaning.

In 2017, the Party issued measures on granting this honorary medal in accordance with the regulation on establishing and improving the honor and reward system of the Party and the nation. The regulation was approved in 2015 by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

The medal's debut conferment arrived in 2021, the centenary of the CPC, when the ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People. The medal is decided by the CPC Central Committee, with certificates signed and medals presented by Xi.

The first batch of recipients covered diverse fields: poverty alleviation cadres, village Party secretaries, medical workers, high school educators and veteran revolutionaries, each embodying selfless dedication.

Beyond individual recognition, the medal carries wider social value. By honoring role models from all walks of life, the CPC translates spiritual inspiration into tangible public guidance. Stories of medal recipients are widely shared nationwide, encouraging people to follow their example.

The July 1 Medal not only records individuals' meritorious deeds, but also passes forward the CPC's original aspiration and vision.