President Xi awarded Argentina's highest decoration

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Chinese President Xi Jinping received Argentina's highest decoration, the Order of the Liberator General San Martin, from President Mauricio Macri on Sunday.

Addressing the ceremony at the presidential residence, Macri spoke highly of China's great development under the leadership of Xi, the relationship between Argentina and China, and the Asian country's important contribution to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

Xi told Macri that he is honored to be awarded the decoration, as it symbolizes the Argentine people's national spirit of independence and carries the profound friendship between the Argentine and Chinese people.

Xi said the honor does not belong to him alone, but also to all those committed to promoting China-Argentina friendship.

The decoration, named after Argentina's national hero Jose de San Martin and granted by the head of state of Argentina, is the highest honor awarded to foreign nationals.

It is not uncommon for political leaders to receive honors from other countries.

The Chinese president was conferred with the Order of Zayed, the highest civil decoration of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), during his state visit to the Gulf nation on July 20. He then received Senegal's top medal of honor in Dakar the next day.

While visiting Russia in July last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Xi the country's highest order, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called.

During his visit to Peru in November 2016, Xi received the Grand-Cross Medal of Honor of the Peruvian Congress from Luz Salgado, the president of Peru's Congress.

From 2013 to 2016, the Chinese president received a number of honors, such as the Key to the City to the capitals of Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina and the Czech Republic, Belgium's Grand Cordon medal of the Order of Leopold, Venezuela's Order of the Liberator, Cuba's Order of Jose Marti, Pakistan's Nishan-e-Pakistan award, and Saudi Arabia's Order of King Abdulaziz.

Argentina is the second leg of Xi's Europe and Latin America trip from November 27 to December 5, which had taken him to Spain and also includes state visits to Panama and Portugal.

(With input from Xinhua)