China launched a commemoration campaign Tuesday on Marshal Zhu De, one of the founders of China's armed forces of to mark his 120th birth anniversary and the 50th anniversary of his crowning of marshal.

Zhu, who was born in Yilong County in Southwest China's Sichuan Province on Nov. 1, 1886, was commander-in-chief of the army led by the Chinese Communist Party during the war against Japanese aggression and the liberation war.

After the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, Zhu held the position of commander-in-chief of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). In 1955, he was made a marshal.

The campaign will include activities of visit to places where Zhu fought in the war, a national contest about his life story and a photo exhibition tour, educating the youth, military officials and soldiers.

Zhu made great contribution to the independence and liberation of the Chinese nation. The revolutionary spirits of Zhu and other marshals will play a key role in carrying forward the revolutionary traditions and advancing the modernization of Chinese society, said Chen Haosu, head of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries at the launching ceremony.

Some young people do not cherish the happy life they have today, Chen said. "They do not understand that today's life was built on the struggles the older generation made."

The campaign is organized by Biweekly Comment magazine.

Source: Xinhua