President Xi Jinping presented national medals and honorary titles of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to awardees in the Great Hall of the People on Sunday morning.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, helped the awardees wear the medals and shook hands with them.

Recipients represent distinguished Chinese dedicated to the causes of the Party and people, Xi said after presenting the medals.

He also said that heroes show that greatness comes from the ordinary, and if we do all ordinary things well, we can lead an extraordinary life.

Xi called on honorees to continue working and influencing more people, and urged Chinese society to respect and learn from heroes.

The red and golden Medals of the Republic were awarded to individuals who made great contributions to the construction and development of the People's Republic of China, while the golden and blue Friendship Medals represented the long-standing friendship between the people of China and the rest of the world.

The medals for recipients of national honorary titles were granted to those who made outstanding contributions in various fields.

Of the 42 individuals on the list, five are from the art and culture sector, including Chinese writer Wang Meng, Chinese actress Qin Yi, Chinese singer Guo Lanying, Chinese archaeologist Fan Jinshi and Sinologist Galina Kulikova. She is the first vice-president of the Russia-China Friendship Association and was awarded the Friendship Medal for her contributions in deepening the Sino-Russian cultural relationship.

Here is a brief introduction of the four Chinese awardees from China's art and culture sector:

Wang Meng, writer, born October 1934

Wang is former minister of culture. Many of his works have been translated into more than 20 languages and published in various countries. Wang, a winner of China's prestigious Maodun Literature Prize, has made outstanding contributions to contemporary Chinese literature.

Qin Yi, actress, born January 1922

Qin is a national-level actress as well as a member of the third, fourth and fifth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Adhering to the creative orientation of literature and art serving socialism and taking people as the center, she has starred in more than 30 films.

Guo Lanying, opera singer, born December 1930

Guo is an opera singer and vocalist who has made great contributions to China's music and music education. As a singer and performer, she is well-known for her popular songs and the vivid characters she portrayed. As a vocal artist and music educator, she helped establish the folk opera performance system and helped develop traditional Chinese vocal arts.

Fan Jinshi, archaeologist, born July 1938

Fan Jinshi is an archaeologist who has devoted herself to research and study in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu province. She is an explorer and a guardian of Dunhuang's cultural relics. Based in the desert regions, she established a chronological catalog of the Mogao Caves, which facilitated the scientific protection of the ancient formations. She was honored as a National Excellent Communist Party Member and rated as a national advanced worker.