A total of 8,487 immigration officers were awarded commemorative medals for guarding border areas by the National Immigration Administration and its subordinate general stations on Sunday.

This is the first time this medal has been presented and it will be issued annually, the administration said.

The medal was approved by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council to further enhance immigration officers' sense of honor, belonging and mission.

The front side of the medal is composed of five stars, passes of the Great Wall, shields, olive branches, snowdrops and other elements. It embodies the tasks of immigration administration agencies in performing their duties in accordance with the law, safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, promoting and serving economic and social development and safeguarding exchanges between Chinese and foreign personnel.

The three colors of the medal — gold, silver and bronze — represent medal winners have worked in the Tibet autonomous region and other border provinces and regions for 30, 20 or 10 years.