Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, left, stands with Chinese President Xi Jinping after receiving an award at a ceremony in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Sept. 29, 2019.
China’s president has presented national medals and honorary titles to 42 people.
Xi Jinping bestowed the awards upon the honorees in a lavish ceremony Sunday in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
Among the recipients was Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine Tu Youyou.
Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin was awarded a friendship medal.
The ceremony comes ahead of the celebrations Tuesday commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.