China issued a circular on Monday to award 15 individual models of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The order, signed by Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) Hu Jintao, gave out first class merits , six second class merits and four third class merits.

The first class merit winners included Gao Yuqi, director of the Altitude Medicine Department of the Third Military Medical University; the second class merit winners included Cheng Hua, director of the Military Construction Department of the Logistical Engineering University of PLA; the third class merit winner included Jia Lianshun, chief orthopaedic surgeon of the second hospital affiliated to the Second Military Medical University.

The CMC called on all the armed forces to learn from these models and strive to promote military modernization.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2008)