Grassroots heroes take center stage as CPC awards highest honor on 105th anniversary: expert

The conferral of the July 1 Medal, the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s highest honor for those who have served dedicatedly in grassroots roles, has revealed a core tenet of the Party's governance philosophy, said an expert.

As the CPC marked its 105th founding anniversary on Wednesday, eight exemplary honorees received the July 1 Medal at a gathering.

This year's honorees are individuals whose work over decades has quietly shaped the lives of ordinary citizens.

Speaking on the significance of the awards, Han Hua, co-founder and secretary general of the Beijing Club for International Dialogue, offered a perspective on why grassroots figures occupy such a central place in the Party's highest recognition system.

"Even though the CPC does have this grand representation from all walks of life, including the business community people, even the private sectors, also businessmen, entrepreneurs and academia, but I think most of them, especially the medal award going to the people who can deliver the most and the most significant public service to the grassroots, and to the people, this is people-centered. I regard it as the core value or the backbone of the CPC value. So people who can deliver like for so many hours, for such a long time, decades after decades, I think they are the most representatives of the CPC and they are the people who deserve this gold medal,” she said.

Presented every five years to mark major CPC anniversaries, the July 1 Medal honors Party members who have made outstanding contributions to the Party and the people and created enduring spiritual wealth through their dedication and service. It was awarded for the first time in 2021, the centennial anniversary of the CPC.

Recipients, who are selected under rigorous criteria, must have made outstanding contributions with a lasting impact to the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and Party building, demonstrated exemplary moral character, and earned broad public recognition.

Grassroots heroes take center stage as CPC awards highest honor on 105th anniversary: expert

U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Kevin Warsh said on Wednesday that "prices are too high" in the United States, reiterating the Fed's commitment to restoring price stability.

Speaking at the European Central Bank Forum on Central Banking in Sintra, Portugal, Warsh declined to say whether the Fed would raise interest rates at its July policy meeting. He said the central bank would "chart a new course" in conducting monetary policy, but gave no further details. He also stressed that the Fed would not provide forward guidance on future interest rate decisions.

Warsh said the Federal Reserve is establishing a number of task forces to review issues including monetary policy communications, economic data, productivity, inflation frameworks and balance sheet policy. He said reforms should be pursued if the current policy framework hinders effective policymaking.

U.S. Fed chair signals "new course" in monetary policy as prices remain "too high"