1st LD-Writethru: Top leaders attend celebration of military-civilian unity

China's top leaders gathered with servicemen and members of the public on Wednesday at an event to celebrate unity between the government, military and public.

President Xi Jinping and other leaders including Premier Li Keqiang, senior leader Liu Yunshan and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli were present along with representatives of local government, the military, armed police and Beijing residents.

China's ideology requires the army to support the government and respect the people, while the government must support the army and give preferential treatment to families of servicemen. Local governments support the military while the military helps in development of their areas.

Zhang, who presided over the event, said in the past year relations between the military, the government and the people were epitomized by increasing solidarity. The military and the people together made great strides forward in sovereignty and security.

In 2014, China established a memorial day for victory in the Anti-Japanese War, a memorial day for martyrs, and a national public day of remembrance for victims of the Nanjing Massacre. A ceremony received the repatriated remains of martyrs of Chinese People's Volunteer Army who fell in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.

Through those acts, the national spirit had been greatly encouraged, consolidating the people and military, Zhang said at the seminar.

Zhang called on the army and the government to protect the rights of servicemen, the families of servicemen and martyrs; promote sustainable development of society and the economy; and consolidate the relations between the military, the people and government. Endi