A program featuring music and dance performances was staged in Beijing on the evening of November 12 to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Air Force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) Jiang Zemin attended the performance, together with other state and Party leaders including vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission Hu Jintao, Zhang Wannian, Chi Haotian, and CMC members.

Billed as "Flying Into the New Century," entertainment depicted the 50-year development of the PLA Air Force, which has become a modernized and hi-tech branch of service made up of various components including paratroops, anti-aircraft artillery, a ground- to-air missile unit, and radar units.

Jiang, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met with model airmen before the evening performance, and complimented them on the great contributions they have made in safeguarding the security of the nation's air space. (Xinhua)