BEIJING, Oct. 1 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday delivered a speech at a grand rally at Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

"We gathered here today for a grand rally to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

"Right at this moment, Chinese people of all ethnic groups and all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation at home and abroad take pride in and give our best wishes to our great motherland with great joy," he added.