Adopted at the 18th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People’s Congress on December 27, 2015
Effective: January 1, 2016
Article 1 — This Law is formulated in accordance with the Constitution in order to commend outstanding persons who have made outstanding contributions to the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics, carry forward the national spirit and the spirit of the times, inspire the people of all ethnic groups across the country to build a prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, and harmonious modern socialist country, and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Article 2 — State medals and state honorary titles are the highest honors of the State.
This Law applies to the establishment and conferment of state medals and state honorary titles.
Article 3 — The State establishes the “Medal of the Republic” to be conferred on outstanding persons who have made enormous contributions to the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to the safeguarding of the State and have rendered meritorious service of distinction.
The State establishes the “Medal of Friendship” to be conferred on foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to China’s socialist modernization, to promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign countries, and to safeguarding world peace.
Article 4 — The State establishes state honorary titles to be conferred on outstanding persons who have made significant contributions and enjoyed high prestige in various fields and industries such as the economy, society, national defense, foreign affairs, education, science and technology, culture, health, and sports.
The names of state honorary titles shall be prefixed with “the People’s” or may use other names. The specific names of state honorary titles shall be determined by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress when deciding to confer them.
Article 5 — The Council of Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress shall, on the basis of recommendations from various sources, submit proposals for conferring state medals and state honorary titles to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.
The State Council and the Central Military Commission may submit proposals for conferring state medals and state honorary titles to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.
Article 6 — The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress shall decide on the conferment of state medals and state honorary titles.
Article 7 — The President of the People’s Republic of China shall, in accordance with the decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, confer state medals and state honorary title medals on the recipients and issue certificates.
Article 8 — When conducting state affairs, the President of the People’s Republic of China may directly confer the “Medal of Friendship” on foreign dignitaries, international friends, and other persons.
Article 9 — The State shall hold ceremonies for conferring state medals and state honorary titles on the National Day or other major festivals and commemorative days; when necessary, ceremonies for conferring state medals and state honorary titles may also be held at other times.
Article 10 — The State establishes a national book of meritorious service to record the recipients of state medals and state honorary titles and their meritorious deeds.
Article 11 — Recipients of state medals and state honorary titles shall be respected by the State and society, and shall enjoy the high courtesy of being invited to attend state celebrations and other major activities, as well as the treatment prescribed by the State.
Article 12 — The State and society shall publicize, through various forms, the outstanding meritorious deeds and remarkable accomplishments of recipients of state medals and state honorary titles.
Article 13 — State medals and state honorary titles shall be enjoyed by their recipients for life, except where they are revoked in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
Article 14 — Recipients of state medals and state honorary titles shall wear the state medals and state honorary title medals in accordance with the provisions, and properly keep the medals and certificates.
Article 15 — Where a recipient of a state medal or a state honorary title dies, the medal or certificate obtained by him or her shall be kept by his or her heir or a designated person; where there is no heir or designated person, it may be kept by the State.
State medals, state honorary title medals, and certificates shall not be sold, leased, or used for other profit-making activities.
Article 16 — Where a person who made outstanding contributions during his or her lifetime and met the conditions for conferment of a state medal or state honorary title under this Law dies after this Law comes into force, a state medal or state honorary title may be conferred on him or her posthumously.
Article 17 — Recipients of state medals and state honorary titles shall cherish and maintain the honor conferred by the State, observe the Constitution and laws in an exemplary manner, strive to serve the people, and consciously safeguard the reputation of state medals and state honorary titles.
Article 18 — Where a recipient of a state medal or state honorary title has been sentenced to criminal punishment in accordance with the law for a crime, or has committed other serious illegal or disciplinary acts, and continuing to enjoy the state medal or state honorary title would seriously damage the reputation of the highest honor of the State, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress shall decide to revoke his or her state medal or state honorary title and make an announcement.
Article 19 — The specific matters concerning state medals and state honorary titles shall be handled by the relevant working organs for state meritorious service and honor commendation.
Article 20 — The State Council and the Central Military Commission may carry out meritorious service and honor commendation and reward work within their respective functions and powers.
Article 21 — This Law shall come into force on January 1, 2016.
Disclaimer: This translation is provided for reference and educational purposes only. It is an unofficial English rendering of the original Chinese text and does not constitute legal advice. In the event of any discrepancy, the official Chinese version shall prevail. Dan Young Business Consultancy assumes no liability for any use of this translation.
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