Xi Jinping and Other Chinese Leaders Pay Tribute to Fallen National Heroes at Tiananmen Square
Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders paid tribute to fallen national heroes at Tiananmen Square. Remembering those who gave their lives for their country and people connects the past with the present and helps preserve historical continuity. Respect for the sacrifices of previous generations also serves as a reminder of the importance of peace, stability and responsibility for the country's future.
On the morning of September 30, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders laid flower baskets at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square in central Beijing as part of events marking China's 13th Martyrs' Day.
Xi Jinping, who also serves as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, has maintained the tradition of attending the flower-laying ceremony since Martyrs' Day was established.
Other senior officials attending the ceremony included Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, along with representatives from different sectors of Chinese society.
The ceremony began at 10 a.m. Participants sang the national anthem of the People's Republic of China and then observed a moment of silence in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Chinese people and for the founding and development of the People's Republic of China.
After a group of children performed the official song of the Chinese Young Pioneers, nine large flower baskets were placed in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes. Ribbons attached to the baskets bore the inscription “Eternal Glory to the People's Heroes.”
The baskets were presented on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Central Military Commission, non-Communist parties, people's organizations, representatives from different sectors of society, veterans, relatives of fallen heroes and the Chinese Young Pioneers.
Xi Jinping and the other leaders approached the foot of the monument. Xi adjusted the ribbons on the flower baskets, after which the participants walked around the monument to pay tribute to the fallen heroes. Children and other attendees also laid flowers at the foot of the monument.
The ceremony was presided over by Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee.
According to CCTV+, the ceremony formed part of nationwide activities aimed at preserving the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the country and its people. Such commemorative events highlight the importance of historical memory, continuity between generations and respect for those whose contributions became part of the formation and development of modern China.
