China Reform Friendship Medal

{{Short description|Chinese medal}}

The China Reform Friendship Medal ({{zh|s=中国改革友谊奖章}}) was a Chinese medal conferred on ten foreigners in 2018 for "their outstanding contributions to the country’s reform and opening-up over the past 40 years".{{Cite web |last=An |first=Baijie |last2=Cao |first2=Desheng |date=19 December 2018 |title=10 foreigners given medals for roles in reform, opening-up |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/19/WS5c194335a3107d4c3a001816.html |website=China Daily}}

The China Reform Friendship Medal was established back in 2018, the year of the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up.{{Cite journal |last=Zongze |first=Ruan |date=2018 |title=Building a Community with a Shared Future: Meliorating the Era of Strategic Opportunity in China |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/chintersd69&id=5&div=&collection= |journal=China International Studies |volume=69 |pages=5}} In appreciation of the international community's support and assistance to China's reform and opening up, the Party Central Committee has decided to celebrate this important anniversary by honouring ten individuals who have made outstanding contributions.{{Cite web |title=10 foreigners given medals for roles in reform, opening-up {{!}} english.scio.gov.cn |url=http://english.scio.gov.cn/topnews/2018-12/19/content_74291157.htm |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=english.scio.gov.cn}}{{Cite web |title=Who are the 10 foreigners awarded reform friendship medals by China's president? |url=https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/1812196916/ |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=SHINE |language=en}}

This includes politicians who have opened international cooperation with China, entrepreneurs and experts who have taken the lead in China's modernisation.{{Cite journal |last=Breslin |first=Shaun |date=2019 |title=China in 2018 : presidents, politics and power |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/as.2019.59.1.21 |journal=Asian Survey |volume=59 |issue=1 |pages=21–34 |doi=10.1525/as.2019.59.1.21 |issn=0004-4687 |s2cid=159199066}} As well as prominent figures from international organisations who have been advocating and promoting Sino-foreign cooperation in trade, commerce, humanities and sports.{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Guanhua |date=2003-01-01 |title='Friendship First': China's Sports Diplomacy during the Cold War |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/jaer/12/3-4/article-p133_2.xml |journal=Journal of American-East Asian Relations |language=en |volume=12 |issue=3–4 |pages=133–153 |doi=10.1163/187656103793645225 |issn=1058-3947}}

The design theme of the China Reform Friendship Medal is "Spring of Friendship". The peony flower, a traditional Chinese cultural element, is used as a symbol of the important contribution made by international friends to the prosperous development of China since the reform and opening up.{{Cite journal |last=Ying |first=Wang |date=2018 |title=A National Flower's Symbolic Value During the Tang and Song Dynasties in China |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1206331217749765 |journal=Space and Culture |language=en |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=46–59 |doi=10.1177/1206331217749765 |bibcode=2018SpCul..21...46Y |s2cid=148835684 |issn=1206-3312|doi-access=free }} The woven pattern and blue ribbon symbolise China's increasing integration and cooperation with the rest of the world.