BEIJING — China held a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country’s reform and opening-up, a great revolution that has changed the destiny of the Chinese nation and also influenced the world.

President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the event which began at around 10 am on Dec 18 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Premier Li Keqiang presided over the meeting.

The celebration started with all participants rising to sing the national anthem.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, read a decision to award the personnel who have made outstanding contributions to the country’s reform and opening-up.

The people are “the creators of the great wonder of reform and opening-up” and “the source of power” to drive the campaign started 40 years ago, Wang said.

According to the decision made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, 100 Chinese were awarded the medals of reform pioneers and 10 foreigners were honored with China reform friendship medals.

Chinese leaders presented the medals to the prize winners.

Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attend a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018.[Photo/Xinhua]

Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan walk into the conference hall to attend a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the gathering.[Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attends a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Xi made an important speech at the gathering. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attends a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Xi made an important speech at the gathering. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders present the medals for prize winners of reform pioneers during a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Xi made an important speech at the gathering. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders present the medals for prize winners of reform pioneers during a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Xi made an important speech at the gathering.[Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders applaud after presenting the medals for prize winners of reform pioneers during a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Xi made an important speech at the gathering.[Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders present the China reform friendship medals for the prize winners during a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Xi made an important speech at the gathering.[Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders applaud for the personnel awarded for their outstanding contributions to the reform and opening-up during a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Xi made an important speech at the gathering. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, applauds for the personnel awarded with medals during a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Xi made an important speech at the gathering.[Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, applauds for the personnel awarded for their outstanding contributions to the reform and opening-up during a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Xi made an important speech at the gathering.[Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders shake hands with the award recipients and their relatives after a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Award recipients were presented medals for their outstanding contributions to the reform and opening-up. Xi made an important speech at the gathering.[Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders pose for group photos with the personnel awarded for their outstanding contributions to the reform and opening-up and their relatives after a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 18, 2018. Xi made an important speech at the gathering.[Photo/Xinhua]