Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Hu Jintao on Thursday morning reviewed Chinese troops in central Beijing as the country celebrated the 60th National Day.

Standing in a black open-roof limousine on Chang'an Avenue, Hu was greeted by Fang Fenghui, commander-in-chief of the full-dress military parade. Fang reported: "Comrade chairman, assembly of the reviewing troops is completed, please review!"

Amid army songs played by a 1,300-member brass band, the home-made Red Flag limo drove eastward along Chang'an avenue, where Hu inspected 44 ground square formations composed of the three services of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), armed police, army reserves, and militia.

His car was followed by the limo of Fang Fenghui and an alternate one.

Wearing a high-collared Mao suit, Hu repeated salutes through a microphone: "Greetings, comrades!" and "Comrades, you are working hard!" The soldiers loudly replied: "Greetings, leader!" and "We serve the people!"

Twelve echelons of more than 150 warplanes are expected to fly over Tian'anmen Square during a military parade.

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2009)