Xi pays tribute to national heroes at Tian'anmen Square

Xi Jinping straightens the red ribbons on flower baskets during a ceremony to present flower baskets to deceased national heroes at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 30, 2020. Xi and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan joined representatives from various walks of life in the ceremony to mark Martyrs' Day on Wednesday morning. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state joined representatives from various walks of life in a ceremony to present flower baskets to deceased national heroes at Tian'anmen Square on Wednesday morning.

The event, which took place a day ahead of the National Day, was held to mark Martyrs' Day.

The other leaders included Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan.

A military band played trumpets to commemorate the martyrs.

At 10 a.m., all participants sang the national anthem, and then paid a silent tribute to those who devoted their lives to the liberation of the Chinese people and the construction of the People's Republic of China, which was founded in 1949.

After students sang the chorus of the song of Chinese Young Pioneers, 18 honor guards laid nine flower baskets in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes.

The baskets were presented in the names of the CPC Central Committee; the National People's Congress Standing Committee; the State Council; the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; the Central Military Commission; non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and patriotic persons without party affiliations; people's organizations and people from all walks of life; veterans, retired senior cadres and the relatives of martyrs; as well as Chinese Young Pioneers.

Xi straightened the red ribbons on the baskets and led a group of senior officials in a walk around the monument to pay tribute.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak this year, China has waged an all-out "people's war" against the virus.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, the country has achieved major strategic achievements in the fight against the epidemic and secured remarkable progress in advancing epidemic prevention and control as well as economic and social development.

With the goals of securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects as well as winning the fight against poverty soon to be realized, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups will continue their journey to fully build a modern socialist China under the leadership of the CPC.

The ceremony was presided over by Cai Qi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee.