MOSCOW, November 4 (RIA Novosti) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded state decorations to seven foreign public figures to mark the Russian National Unity Day at the Kremlin reception Tuesday.

"I would like to underline that you [the awarded] have been contributing to the cooperation and understanding among peoples. Only by means of culture and history it is possible to understand each other better in order to live in peace and well-being," Putin said at the end of the reception.

At the reception, public figures from seven foreign countries were presented Orders of Friendship and Pushkin Medals.

The Order of Friendship is awarded to foreign citizens for their particular efforts in strengthening peace, friendship, charity activities, cooperation and understanding among peoples.

The Pushkin Medal is awarded for the contribution to the fields of culture, education, the humanities and literature, the arts, and for the preservation and study of cultural heritage.