On November 28, 2003, in Jintai Art Museum, Gulyako, the Minister of Culture Department of Republic of Belarus, conferred the medal on behalf of Lukashemko, the President of Republic of Belarus, to the famous artist Yuan Xikun, the head of Jintai Art Museum.

　　Lukashemko said," Commissioned by President Lukashemko, in order to cite Mr Yuan Xikun's great contributions to the culture and arts exchange between Republic of Belarus and China, as well as world peace, I am conferring the Highest Honor Medal of Republic of Belarus to Mr Yuan Xikun on behalf of President Lukashemko. President Lukashemko hopes that there will be more renowned Chinese artists like Mr Yuan Xikun to contribute to the cooperation and friendship between Republic of Belarus and China."

　　Mr Yuan Xikun has expressed his appreciation by repaying a set of stamps he designed for Yang Liwei, the first Chinese astronaut, with the special invitation by Chinese General Post Office. Mr Yuan Xikun asked the Minister Gulyako to present this set of stamps to President Lukashemko.

　　Born in June 1944, Prof. Yuan Xikun is good at Chinese ink-and-wash portraits. Upon invitation, he has drawn portraits for about one hundred of presidents and diplomats of foreign countries and foreign celebrities. For many years, he has collected thousands of Chinese precious historical relics and paintings from foreign collectors with his own money and transported them back to China. In 1996, he raised funds and built the Jintai Art Museum in Chaoyang Park, in Beijing, which is the largest unofficial museum up to now in China.