Chinese President Jiang Zemin Wednesday extended his new year greetings to retired military veterans.

Jiang, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central MilitaryCommission (CMC), was present at a new year performance with military veterans organized by the CMC to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival, the Chinese lunar new year.

The veterans have made great contributions to national independence and the liberation of the Chinese people. They are confident that China will succeed in national revitalization as long as the nation rallies closely around to the CPC with Jiang Zemin at the core. (Xinhua)