For Craig Joseph Heck, winning a Friendship Award is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, celebrated when he was one of 50 to receive China's top award for foreign experts at the Great Hall of the People on Sunday afternoon.

After winning an award from the local government in Wuhan last year, the 54-year-old from the United States experienced a bigger honor when he was given the 2013 Chinese Government Friendship Award.

"Winning this award is a great honor I've never expected," said Heck, who works for Humanwell Healthcare (Group) Co Ltd in Wuhan, Hubei province.