A work committee on Party and State medals and honorary titles held its first plenary meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.

Presided over by Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the work committee's job is to decide which nominated candidates should receive national medals and honorary titles.

The National People's Congress, China's top legislature, enacted a law last December to bestow national medals and honorary titles on both citizens and foreigners.

According to the law, Medals of the Republic will be given to honor those with "great contributions and distinguished service in the country's socialist construction with Chinese characteristics and defense of the nation."

Foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to China's socialist modernization drive may be presented friendship medals.

President Xi Jinping recently gave a guiding speech on the work of the appraisal committee in which he said they should take "an accurate direction" with a focus on the virtues and achievements of winners to ensure the awards had long-term social effects.