Medal awarded to former Brazilian president symbolizes China-Brazil friendship: Ambassador

China's decision to award former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff the Friendship Medal symbolizes the friendship between the two countries, said Brazilian Ambassador to China Marcos Galvao ahead of a ceremony awarding China's highest state honors on Sunday.

At the ceremony held in Beijing, 15 individuals were awarded China's national medals and honorary titles. Rousseff, who serves as president of the New Development Bank, was the sole recipient of the Friendship Medal, China's highest state honor for foreigners.

"Today's award ceremony is very meaningful because [former] president Dilma Rousseff will be the only foreigner to be awarded the medal by the Chinese government, and President Xi Jinping will personally present it to her today. It is a recognition of the [former] president who has a great leadership in Brazil, and also symbolizes our friendship. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. Over the years, the relationship between the two countries has been steadily developing for the better. Here in China, Brazil has been recognized in a positive way for football and barbecue. We should strengthen exchanges with each other. This is the role that the youth of the two countries should play," the Ambassador said.

The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreign nationals, awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to supporting China's socialist modernization, promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign countries and safeguarding world peace.

The medal symbolizes the long-standing friendship between the people of China and the rest of the world.

Medal awarded to former Brazilian president symbolizes China-Brazil friendship: Ambassador

Medal awarded to former Brazilian president symbolizes China-Brazil friendship: Ambassador

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after the alliance failed to join the attacks on Iran, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday.

When asked if he would reconsider America's membership in the alliance after the conflict, he said the question is "beyond reconsideration," adding, "I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger."

Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with NATO for "not being there," saying it was "actually hard to believe."

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump would make a decision on the future of NATO given the fact that some U.S. allies refuse to provide support, after the end of U.S. military operations against Iran.

Following Trump's criticism, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is not changing his position on the war.

Multiple European countries have kept their distance from the conflict with Iran. Starmer on Monday said his country will not get dragged into the conflict "whatever the pressure and whoever it's coming from," while Spain on Monday closed its airspace to all flights related to the U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran.

Trump calls NATO 'paper tiger,' considers withdrawal