President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for carrying forward the legacy of Sun Yat-sen, one of the nation's revered revolutionary forefathers, to make joint efforts for national rejuvenation and turn into reality the great dream of all Chinese people since the advent of modern times.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a gathering held in Beijing to commemorate the 160th anniversary of Sun's birth.

Born in 1866, Sun led the revolution of 1911 more than a century ago to abolish the absolute monarchy that had ruled China for thousands of years. Sun died in 1925.

Addressing the event in the Great Hall of the People, Xi hailed Sun as a great national hero, a great patriot and a great pioneer of China's democratic revolution.

He noted that Chinese communists are the most steadfast supporters, loyal collaborators and faithful successors to the revolutionary cause initiated by Sun.

For more than 100 years, the party has led the Chinese people in writing the most magnificent chapter in the history of the Chinese nation, Xi said.

"The best way for us to remember Dr Sun is to emulate, inherit and carry forward his invaluable spirit, steadily advancing our endeavors to build a great country and rejuvenate our nation," he said.

Xi also called on people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Chinese around the world to contribute to the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and complete the country's reunification.

Resolving the Taiwan question and realising the country’s complete reunification is an unswerving historical mission for the Communist Party of China, a shared aspiration of all Chinese people, and a requirement for realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi said. (Xinhua)



Edited by Aaron Tam