The medal was established in 1951 by the
Central People's Government, in order to express thanks to
Soviet Union for the early technical support and assistance provided following the
founding of People's Republic of China in 1949. On February 14, 1950, China and the Soviet Union signed the
Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance. On February 15, nearly 2,000 representatives held a celebration meeting, which was attended by 40 Soviet dignitaries, including
Peter Vladimirov, the
Consul General of the Soviet Union in Shanghai.
Mayor of Shanghai Chen Yi delivered a speech on behalf of the people of Shanghai at the celebratory meeting in support of the treaty. In March 1950, at the request of the Chinese government, the Soviet Union dispatched an air defense group to Shanghai to assist the
Chinese People's Liberation Army in air defense of Shanghai from the Nationalist
ROCAF air raids operating from bases in
Taiwan. After October, the Soviet air defense group left Shanghai and returned to China in batches following the outbreak of the
Korean War. During the Korean War, the medal was awarded to Soviet specialists and military advisors for the assistance provided to the
People's Volunteer Army. At the same time, it was a commemorative medal for awarding various Soviet delegations visiting the PRC, and an anniversary award for presenting on the occasion of solemn events. On Sept 15, 1955, the
Chinese government decreed that each departing Soviet military personnel be issued the medal. The recipient was awarded the medal and certificate by
Premier Zhou Enlai or by
Chairman Mao Zedong. In late June 1956, at the invitation of the Chinese government, three warships of the
Soviet Pacific Fleet led by the commander of the Pacific Fleet Valentin Chekurov visited Shanghai. This is the first friendly visit by a foreign naval fleet since the end of the
Chinese Civil War and it was attended by more than 2,000 people. On June 25, on behalf of Mao Zedong, commander of the
PLA Navy Xiao Jinguang, presented the Medal of Sino-Soviet Friendship to the personnel of the fleet, along with an awarding certificate printed with Mao Zedong's autograph to all officers above the rank of lieutenant within the Soviet fleet. Following the start of
Sino-Soviet split in 1956, the award was disestablished in the early 1960s. After the
death of Mao Zedong and the beginning of the
Chinese economic reforms undertaken by
Deng Xiaoping, which saw the arrival of new foreign experts and advisers, the
State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs reinistated the award in 1991 with a new name, the
Friendship Award. It is awarded to foreign dignitaries, advisors and experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's socialist modernization, and the promotion of exchange and cooperation between China and foreign countries. ==Appearance==