Author: Gao Xiang

Translated by: Cao Mi, Wu Xia

Laurent Bili, the French ambassador to China, recently held a special award ceremony at French Embassy in China. On behalf of the French government, he awarded the "Golden Medal of Honor for Diplomacy of the Republic of France" to Professor Zhao Yan, the Director of the Emergency Center of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the fight against COVID-19 for both China and France.

At the awarding ceremony, ambassador Laurent Bili pointed out that Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University has made great contributions to the fight against the pandemic for China and the whole world. As the director of the emergency center, Professor Zhao Yan took the lead in establishing isolation wards at the very beginning of the pandemic and actively devoted himself to the treatment of patients. As the medical consultant of the Consulate General of the Republic of France in Wuhan, he shared valuable experiences with France. At the same time, he played an active role in coordinating the acceptance and distribution of 17 tons of medical supplies donated by France to China and coordinated China’s assistance to France when it was in dire need of help. In view of Professor Zhao Yan's important role in the fight against the COVID-19, the French government awarded him the " Golden Medal of Honor for Diplomacy of the Republic of France".

This is the second time that Professor Zhao Yan was awarded by the French government. In 2012, Sylvie Bermann, the then French Ambassador to China, on behalf of the French government, made a special trip to Zhongnan Hospital where Zhao Yan worked and awarded him the "Knight Badge in French" in recognition of his contributions to cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.