Russian President Boris Yeltsin conferred the Friendship Medal on five Chinese on December 10 to acknowledge their contributions to promoting Sino-Russian relations and friendship between the two peoples.

The recipients are Huang Yicheng, chairman of the Sino-Russian Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development; Zhang Deguang, vice-Foreign Minister; Zhu Xun, president of the Branch of Returned Students From The Former Soviet Union attached to the Returned Students Association From Europe and America; Xiao Rong, vice president of the China Association for International Friendly Contacts and Chen Haosu, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

At the ceremony, President Yeltsin said that not so long ago, the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 50th anniversary of establishing Sino-Russian diplomatic relations. The celebrating activities reflected the two countries' desire to further promote good-neighborly relations and all-round cooperation.

The Friendship Medal, initiated in 1994 by President Yeltsin, is awarded to those who contribute to promoting friendship and cooperation between states as well as to developing the Russian economy.

Huang Yicheng said that the recipients of the award will continue to promote friendship between the two countries and hope for even better Sino-Russian relations in the next century.

In Yeltsin's presidential order issued on November 13, Liu Huaqing, the former vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission, also received a friendship medal.

Yeltsin has entrusted the Russian ambassador to China, Igor Rogachev, to present Liu, who is out of town, with the medal.