1st LD-Writethru: China commemorates 130th anniversary of veteran revolutionary Zhu De's birth

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Tuesday held a seminar to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the birth of veteran revolutionary Zhu De.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, who spoke at the event, urged the Party, the military and the nation to learn from Zhu and contribute to the cause pioneered by veteran revolutionaries.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, including Li Keqiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli, attended the seminar, which was chaired by Zhang Dejiang.

Zhu De (1886 - 1976) was one of the major founders of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Republic of China. He was awarded the rank of marshal in 1955.

Zhu served as commander-in-chief of the PLA, vice chairman of the People's Central Government, Chinese vice president and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that in Zhu's almost 70-year revolutionary career, he contributed greatly to the Chinese revolution, the liberation of the people and the socialist cause.

Zhu's spirit and morality are greatly valued by the Party and the people, according to Xi.

Xi said people should learn from Zhu's steadfast belief in pursuing truth. His faith in Marxism and communism is the political soul and spiritual pillar of communist party members.

Xi also lauded Zhu's absolute loyalty and being open and aboveboard, urging all comrades to remember that they are first and foremost Party members, and, with this in mind, they should fulfil the duties and missions designated by the Party.

He urged people to learn from Zhu's "seeking truth from facts" and his being realistic and pragmatic, adding that "seeking truth from facts" is the essence of Marxism.

"All the achievements we have made rely on 'seeking truth from facts' and we must rely on this concept to push forward socialism with Chinese characteristics," Xi noted.

Xi asked Party members to continue with activities that are beneficiary to the Party and the people, and to rectify anything that hinders such causes.

"We must value the interests of the people first in our work and policies, and strive to meet people's expectations," Xi said, while urging Party members to learn from Zhu's readiness to be a public servant.

Xi also spoke about Zhu's pursuit of lifelong learning, and asked the whole Party to realize and properly deal with new situations and problems arising from the country's development process.

"It is learning that brought us to where we are today, and we must rely on it when we step into the future," Xi said, adding that "we should put our knowledge into practice and improve our ability to solve problems in practice."

Also at Tuesday's seminar, top legislator Zhang Dejiang urged the people to study Xi's remarks, which will guide the CPC as it continues the cause of the country's revolutionaries.

Zhang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, called on the people to unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, to build an all-round moderately prosperous society and realize the nation's rejuvenation.

Officials from central agencies, the military, Beijing and Sichuan province, as well as Zhu's relatives, friends and co-workers, among others, attended the event. Endi