Xi pays tribute to fallen heroes on Martyrs' Day_Xinhua

Xi Jinping straightens the ribbon of a flower basket during a ceremony to hand over flower baskets to fallen heroes at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, September 30, 2024. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Other Party and state leaders including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the ceremony on Monday. The event took place to mark Martyrs' Day, celebrated a day before the National Day. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders attended a ceremony at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing on Monday to hand over baskets of flowers to fallen heroes.

The event took place to mark Martyrs' Day, celebrated a day before the National Day. This year, the country celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Around 10 a.m., Xi and other leaders – Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng – arrived at the square. They were joined by representatives from all walks of life.

Among the more than 2,400 participants who brought flowers were veterans, relatives of martyrs, recipients of national medals and honorary titles, role models, students and children.

At the start of the ceremony, all participants sang the national anthem, followed by a minute of silence to pay tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Chinese people and the development of the PRC.

Nine large flower baskets, with ribbons reading “Eternal Glory to the People's Heroes,” were placed in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes.

Xi and other leaders approached the base of the monument, where he straightened the ribbons of the baskets before leading other officials on a walk around the monument to pay their respects.

The ceremony was presided over by Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Party chief in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, attend a flower basket presentation ceremony to the fallen heroes at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, on September 30, 2024. The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day, observed a day before the National Day. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, attend a flower basket presentation ceremony to the fallen heroes at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, on September 30, 2024. The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day, observed a day before the National Day. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, attend a flower basket presentation ceremony to the fallen heroes at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, on September 30, 2024. The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day, observed a day before the National Day. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, attend a flower basket presentation ceremony to the fallen heroes at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, on September 30, 2024. The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day, observed a day before the National Day. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, attend a flower basket presentation ceremony to the fallen heroes at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, on September 30, 2024. The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day, observed a day before the National Day. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Xi Jinping walks around the Monument to the People's Heroes to pay respects during a ceremony to hand over flower baskets to fallen heroes at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, September 30, 2024. Chinese President Xi Jinping and other party and state leaders such as Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the ceremony on Monday. The event took place to mark Martyrs' Day, celebrated a day before the National Day. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)