Law of the People's Republic of China on National Medals and National Honorary Titles

(Adopted at the 18th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress on December 27, 2015)

Article 1 This Law is formulated in accordance with the Constitution for the purposes of honoring eminent individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics, carrying forward the national spirit and the zeitgeist, inspiring the enthusiasm of people of all ethnic groups across the country in building a modern socialist country that is prosperous, powerful, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious, and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Article 2 National medals and national honorary titles are the highest honors of the country.

The establishment and conferment of national medals and national honorary titles shall be governed by this Law.

Article 3 The “Republic Medal” established by the state shall be conferred on eminent individuals who have made enormous contributions to and meritorious accomplishments in the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the protection of the state.

The “Friendship Medal” established by the state shall be conferred on foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to China's socialist modernization, the promotion of exchange and cooperation between China and foreign countries, and the protection of world peace.

Article 4 National honorary titles set up by the state shall be conferred on eminent people who have made major contributions in economy, society, national defense, foreign affairs, education, science and technology, culture, public health, physical culture and other fields and industries and who enjoy a high reputation.

National honorary titles may be titled with “people”, or may be titled with any other name. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress shall determine the specific names of national honorary titles when it makes the decision of conferment.

Article 5 The Council of Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress shall, according to the suggestions from all aspects, submit proposals on the conferment of national medals and national honorary titles to the    Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The State Council and the Central Military Commission may submit proposals on the conferment of national medals and national 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 to confer national medals and national 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 national medals and decorations of national honorary titles on recipients of national medals and national honorary titles, and issue certificates thereto.

Article 8 In national affairs activities, the President of the People's Republic of China may directly confer the “Friendship Medal” on important political figures of foreign countries, international friends, and other people.

Article 9 The state shall hold ceremonies for conferring national medals and national honorary titles on National Day, any other major festivals, or anniversaries; and if necessary, may hold ceremonies for conferring national medals and national honorary titles at any other time.

Article 10 The state shall keep a record book of national meritorious service to record the recipients of national medals and national honorary titles and their deeds.

Article 11 Recipients of national medals and national honorary titles shall be respected by the state and the public, enjoy such dignified and courteous reception as being invited to celebrations of the state and other important events, and receive the preferential treatment as prescribed by the state.

Article 12 The state and society shall, through various forms, publicize the outstanding contributions and remarkable deeds made by the recipients of national medals and national honorary titles.

Article 13 National medals and national honorary titles shall be enjoyed by the recipients for their lifetime, unless revoked in accordance with provisions of this Law.

Article 14 Recipients of national medals and national honorary titles shall, according to the relevant regulations, wear national medals and decorations of national honorary titles, and appropriately keep their medals, decorations, and certificates.

Article 15 Where recipients of national medals and national honorary titles die, their medals, decorations, and certificates shall be kept by their inheritors or the persons designated thereby; and if there are no inheritors or persons designated thereby, the medals, decorations and certificates may be kept by the state.

National medals, decorations of national honorary titles, and the certificates of the national medals and national honorary titles may not be sold, leased, or used in any other profit-making activity.

Article 16 Any person who has made outstanding contributions during his lifetime and meets the conditions for conferring national medals and national honorary titles under this Law may be posthumously bestowed a national medal or national honorary title if he dies after this Law comes into force.

Article 17 Recipients of national medals and national honorary titles shall cherish and maintain the honor granted by the state, play an exemplary role in abiding by the Constitution and law, strive to serve the people, and consciously protect the reputation of national medals and national honorary titles.

Article 18 Where a recipient of a national medal or national honorary title is sentenced to a penalty for committing a crime or has committed any other serious violation of law or discipline, and his continuous enjoyment of the national medal or national honorary title may seriously damage the reputation of the state's highest honor, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress shall decide to revoke his national medal or national honorary title, and make an announcement on such issue.

Article 19 Specific affairs relevant to national medals and national honorary titles shall be handled by relevant institutions responsible for the work of national medals and honorary titles.

Article 20 The State Council and the Central Military Commission may, within their respective scope of functions and duties, honor and award those with meritorious service.

Article 21 This Law shall go into effect on January 1, 2016.