On behalf of the French government, the Ambassador of France to China, H.E. Mr Laurent Bili, recently presented Prof. Zhao Yan, the director of the Emergency Center of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, with the Golden Medal of Diplomatic Honor of the French Republic at a special ceremony held at the residence of the French Embassy in Beijing, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in China and France.

As director of the Emergency Center, Zhao Yan set up isolation wards at the beginning of the pandemic and was actively involved in the treatment of patients. As a medical advisor to the Consulate General of the Republic of France in Wuhan, he generously shared the Wuhan’s experience of epidemic prevention and control with France. Meanwhile, Zhao Yan assisted in the inspection, acceptance and distribution of 170,000 tons of medical supplies donated by France, and facilitated China’s medical assistance program when France was in urgent need of medical aid.

Prof. ZhaoYan

This is the second time for Zhao Yan to be conferred with an honorary title by the French government. In 2012, Sylvie Bermann, the former ambassador of France to China, paid a special visit to Zhongnan Hospital to award Zhao Yan the Présidence de la République Ordre national du Mérite to commend his contribution to cultural and educational communication between China and France.

Rewritten by Li Hefeng

Edited by Yu Jianan, Wei Yena, Geng Jinwei

Source: http://news.whu.edu.cn/info/1002/64163.htm