Xi awards Tajik President Rahmon with China's friendship medal

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday awarded Tajik President Emomali Rahmon with the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China at a ceremony in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, the first time the honor has been presented outside of China.

At the venue in the presidential palace, the national flags of China and Tajikistan were arranged in front of a huge red background board, on which the golden pattern of the "Friendship Medal" appeared especially eye-catching.

Amid music and warm applause, Xi and Rahmon entered the venue and stepped onto the awarding platform, before a military band then played the national anthem of the People's Republic of China.

Xi then delivered a speech in which he called Rahmon an old friend of the Chinese people, and said this marks the first time the Friendship Medal, China's highest state honor for foreigners, has been awarded outside of China, which is a special arrangement expressing the Chinese people's close friendship with President Rahmon and the Tajik people.

Under the personal guidance and efforts of President Rahmon and the Chinese leadership, China-Tajikistan relations have stood the test of changing international circumstances, growing from good-neighborly friendship to a strategic partnership, and then to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, with fruitful cooperation in various areas and lasting friendship taking deep root in the minds of the people, Xi said.

Xi noted that last year the two sides jointly announced the building of a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future featuring everlasting friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit, setting new targets in the development of bilateral ties.

Xi said Rahmon has been awarded China's Friendship Medal for his outstanding contributions to the development of China-Tajikistan ties, noting the medal symbolizes the earnest hopes from various sectors of the two countries for a bright future of bilateral relations.

Xi said he stands ready to work together with President Rahmon to stick to good-neighborliness, continue to pursue mutual benefits, and guide China-Tajikistan ties to go forward with big strides, so as to better deliver benefits to the two countries and the people.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi read out the Order of Commendation of President of the People's Republic of China, before honor guards escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall.

Xi then formally presented the medal to Rahmon, before prolonged applause broke out in the hall.

The military band then played the national anthem of Tajikistan.

In his speech, Rahmon thanked Xi for the award, which he said is a recognition and affirmation of all the Tajik people's resolute efforts in developing the Tajikistan-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Noting bilateral ties are based on high-level mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual support, Rahmon thanked China for its long-term support for Tajikistan, which has greatly promoted the country's economic development.

Rahmon also pledged further efforts in building a Tajikistan-China community with a shared future.

Xi awards Tajik President Rahmon with China's friendship medal

Xi awards Tajik President Rahmon with China's friendship medal

Xi awards Tajik President Rahmon with China's friendship medal

Xi awards Tajik President Rahmon with China's friendship medal

Xi awards Tajik President Rahmon with China's friendship medal

Xi awards Tajik President Rahmon with China's friendship medal

Xi awards Tajik President Rahmon with China's friendship medal

Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Thursday that the group is willing to consider a ceasefire proposal if it includes guarantees for a truce in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

A member of Lebanese parliament from the Hezbollah coalition made the statement at a news conference in Beirut.

He criticized Israel's strike on a Beirut health care facility that killed at least five people, and warned the international community against Israel's continuous violations of international law.

"The world is facing a challenge. Can they find one humanitarian or international law that Israel hasn't violated? All U.N. charters, U.N. Security Council resolutions, Israel has violated them. Isn't it enough that it tore the U.N. Charter? Isn't it enough that it declared the [U.N.] secretary general an undesirable person, a Persona Non Grata" said Ibrahim Al Moussawi, an Hezbollah official and member of the Lebanese parliament.

The group also vowed to continue their fight until it sees a realistic proposal for a ceasefire.

"The decision for a ceasefire is left to those in the battlefield. We consult with those in the field, and we who deal with politics when we receive an offer that is realistic and would also achieve a ceasefire in Gaza as well. Only then we can consider making a deal," said Ibrahim.

The Israel Defense Forces have been carrying out an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon, dubbed "Arrows of the North", since Sept. 23, after nearly a year of low-intensity cross-border exchanges of fire with Hezbollah. And in another sign of escalation, the country has launched a ground incursion into Lebanon since early Tuesday.

The Israeli air and ground raids have since killed 1,974 people, including 127 children, wounded 9,350 others, and forced more than 1.2 million civilians to flee their homes, according to the Lebanese health minister.

Hezbollah willing to consider ceasefire proposal if it includes guarantees for truce in Gaza: official