Photo: CFP

 
Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a ceremony to commemorate national heroes on Friday, China's Martyrs' Day, as the nation paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Chinese people and the nation's development.

President Xi, along with other leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state, joined representatives from all walks of life in presenting flower baskets to fallen national heroes in Tian'anmen Square.

The grand and solemn ceremony was held to mark China's ninth Martyrs' Day, just one day ahead of the National Day and about two weeks ahead of the upcoming 20th National Congress of the (CPC) to be opened on October 16. 

At about 10 am, Xi and other leaders of the CPC ‬and state sang the national anthem and then paid a silent tribute to heroes who devoted their lives to the liberation of the Chinese people and the construction of the People's Republic of China.‬

18 honor guards laid nine flower baskets in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes in the center of the Tian'anmen Square.

Xi, also the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, straightened the red ribbons on the baskets and led a group of senior officials in a walk around the monument to pay tribute.

On September 30, 1949, exactly 73 years ago, the First Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference decided to build the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tian'anmen Square to commemorate those who lost their lives fighting for national causes.

People from all walks of life -- veterans, retired senior officials and the relatives of martyrs -- as well as Chinese Young Pioneers offered flower baskets and bouquets to pay their tribute to the martyrs.

From 1921 to 1949, there were more than 3.7 million martyrs in the revolutionary ranks led by the Communist Party of China. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19, nearly 400 Party members have sacrificed their lives to fight the epidemic. And over 1,800 CPC members sacrificed their lives during the poverty alleviation fight, according to media report.

China's top legislature approved September 30 as Martyrs' Day in 2014 to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and prosperity.

At another site of significance, the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) in Beijing, about 200 veterans of the war and their relatives, students, officials, soldiers, and people from all walks of life attended the ceremony to present flower baskets and laid flowers to the martyrs. 

In addition to the commemoration in Beijing, cities around China like Guangzhou and Nanjing organized various memorial activities to commemorate martyrs, with many people spontaneously going to lay bouquets and pay tributes.

People also swarmed to China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo expressing their deep emotions related to the memorial ceremonies. 

"We are not living in a time of peace and tranquility, but in a country of peace and tranquility. It was the sacrifice of these martyrs that brought us a prosperous life," said a Weibo user.  

"We need heroes in this new era, and I believe there will be more heroes to stand up in the waves of the time when the nation needs them," said another.

Global Times