China's Top Party Honor
Xi Jinping Presides as China Honors Model CPC Members with July 1 Medals
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Key Points
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The motorcade carrying July 1 Medal recipients was accompanied by motorcycle escorts on its approach to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
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Eight recipients were chosen for the July 1 Medal this year, with at least six named in official captions: Wu Yaqin, Ma Shanxiang, Uhas Sulayman, Li Liancheng, Wang Yuchang, Zhao Yafu.
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Zhao Yafu was photographed greeting a child during the arrival at the Great Hall of the People.
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Xi Jinping, as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will confer the Medal and deliver an important speech at 10:00.
China marked the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on July 1, 2026, with a high-profile medal ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Eight recipients of the July 1 Medal — the Party's highest honor for model members — arrived under motorcycle escort to receive their awards from President Xi Jinping Global Times.
Xi Jinping, serving as General Secretary, President, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, conferred the medals and delivered a keynote address at 10:00 AM Beijing time. In his speech, Xi called the recipients "the embodiment of the spirit of struggle that has defined our Party for 105 years," adding that "greatness is born from the ordinary" Global Times.
Eight Recipients Arrive With Motorcycle Escorts
The motorcade carrying the eight medalists departed under state escort at around 8:30 AM. A formation of motorcycle escorts flanked the vehicles — a protocol reserved for the highest state honors Global Times. The group arrived at the Great Hall of the People by 9:15 AM, where crowds gathered along the entrance.
Among those photographed during the arrival was Zhao Yafu, an agricultural expert from Jiangsu. He paused to greet a child waiting near the entrance — a moment that state media framed as "passing the torch" to the next generation Global Times. The other named recipients include Wu Yaqin, Ma Shanxiang, Uhas Sulayman, Li Liancheng, and Wang Yuchang.
Who Are the 2026 Medalists and What They Did
The eight recipients represent a wide cross-section of Chinese society. Wu Yaqin is a veteran community worker from Changchun who built a "grid-based" system for elderly care and local dispute resolution CNBC. Ma Shanxiang, known as "Old Ma," is a mediator from Chongqing who has reportedly handled over 2,000 disputes. Li Liancheng, a village Party secretary in Henan, is famous for his "eight dreams of farmers" plan for rural development.
Uhas Sulayman, from Xinjiang, was honored for what state media called "ethnic unity and the defense of the frontier." Zhao Yafu turned from official to volunteer farming technician, helping thousands of farmers in the Maoshan region grow strawberries and organic crops. The 2026 group of 8 is far smaller than the 29 recipients honored at the first ceremony in 2021 Global Times.
The July 1 Medal: What It Is and What It Means
The July 1 Medal was first awarded in 2021 to mark the CPC's centenary. The medal features red, gold, and white colors, along with the Party emblem and a five-pointed star. "Cloud" patterns are worked into the design to symbolize luck and progress Global Times. It is the single highest honor the Party can give to an individual member.
The CPC now counts more than 98 million members, making it one of the largest political organizations in the world. The 105th anniversary carries a different tone than the centenary. While 2021 focused on "accomplishment," the 2026 ceremony is framed around "resilience and continuity" as China faces a shifting global landscape CNBC.
Xi's Speech Points Outward as Global Tensions Rise
Xi's address took a notably outward-looking tone, according to analysts CNBC. He spoke about the Party's role in shaping global affairs — a shift from past anniversary speeches that focused almost entirely on domestic achievements. The speech is being closely watched across the Asia-Pacific for cues on China's stance toward sovereignty and self-reliance.
Analysts say the choice of recipients sends a clear policy signal. "The choice of recipients — specifically mediators and community workers — suggests a pivot toward internal consolidation," said Dr. Elena Kostas, a sinologist at Global Policy Review. Honoring grassroots figures like Wu Yaqin and Zhao Yafu signals that rural revitalization and community governance will remain top priorities through 2027.
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