Symposium in Beijing marks birthday of Xi Jinping's father

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Symposium in Beijing marks birthday of Xi Jinping's father

(Xinhua) 19:27, October 15, 2013

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BEIJING, Oct. 15 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday attended a symposium in Beijing to commemorate what would have been the 100th birthday of his father Xi Zhongxun, a respected Communist elder and former vice premier of China.

Xi Zhongxun died aged 89 on Oct. 15, 2002. He served as China's vice premier between 1959 and 1965 and vice chairman of the 5th and 7th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

In a statement released after the symposium, Xi Zhongxun was described as "an excellent Party member, a great Communist fighter, an outstanding proletarian revolutionary as well as a distinguished political leader of our Party and military."

In his speech at the symposium, Li Jianguo, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 12th NPC, China's top legislature, reviewed Xi Zhongxun's revolutionary career and his achievements, calling on others to follow his noble characteristics, revolutionary spirit and fine style.

Speakers at the symposium recalled Xi Zhongxun's heroic adventures in founding the Shaanxi-Gansu revolutionary base, his leadership in the northwest bureau and great contribution to the founding of the people's republic.

Xi Zhongxun worked with late Premier Zhou Enlai at the State Council, or China's cabinet, for ten years, and made important contribution to the economic development of China.

Xi Zhongxun helped push forward south China's Guangdong Province at the front line of the country's reform and opening up drive when he shouldered multiple posts in the province in late 1970s.

The participants remembered Xi's great efforts in correcting the mistakes of the Great Cultural Revolution when he was chairing the secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Xi was also praised for his efforts in perfecting the NPC system and developing socialist democracy and rule of law when he worked with the NPC standing committee.

Li Jianguo urged officials and party members to learn from Xi Zhongxun's firm belief in Communism and his loyalty to the Party and people, so that they will always stick to the Party's theories and principles.

On the other hand, they must emancipate their minds, seek truth from facts and keep pace with the times, he said.

Li noted that Xi Zhongxun's strong connections with the people set an example for all Party members and officials in the current campaign to fight formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance.

The symposium, presided over by Vice Premier Liu Yandong, was also attended by top legislator Zhang Dejiang, some retired leaders, senior officials as well as Xi Zhongxun's relatives and friends.