President Jiang Addresses Gathering to Mark Xu Xiangqian's 100th BirthdayXu Xiangqian, a native of Shanxi Province, north China, was once a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee. He attended the Huangpu (Whampoa) Military Academy in 1924. In 1927, Xu joined the CPC, and since that time held a series of positions in the CPC-led armed forces, the Party and the central government. The rank of marshal of the PLA was conferred on him in 1955. In Wednesday's meeting, President Jiang Zemin, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), set high value of Xu's life-long pursuit of truth, unswerving and firm belief in Communism, and strong faith in the cause of the Party by summarizing Xu's brave behavior in different period of time. Xu contributed to the enrichment and development of the military theory of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, Jiang noted. Xu supported the CPC Central Committee's strategic principles and opposed separatism within the Party and the Red Army during the well-known Long March of the Red Army in the 1930s, Jiang said. Xu did not change his belief even in the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) although he was in a very difficult situation, Jiang added. Jiang spoke highly of the late marshal's honesty, democratic style, hard-working ethic, thrift, modesty and kindness. Xu's glorious and fighting life has left a valuable spiritual treasure to the Chinese people, according to Jiang. CMC vice-chairmen Zhang Wannian and Chi Haotian, both members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also spoke at the meeting, outlining the late marshal's contribution to the Army and the people and his life experiences. Xu's wife, Huang Jie, attended the meeting.
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