Leaders mark China's progress

Top officials affirm commitment to openness and engagement with world on eve of nation's 67th birthday

President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and other top leaders arrive to attend a National Day reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. PHOTOS BY FENG YONGBIN / CHINA DAILY

Top leaders signaled China's growing openness to the outside world and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace on Friday, the eve of the National Day holiday.

On Friday, leaders including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang embarked on a series of events and meetings in Beijing, including a ceremony honoring martyrs, a grand reception and meetings with foreign guests.

As he met with leading foreign experts working in China who received this year's Friendship Award, Li noted that China is ready to welcome more talent from abroad as the country becomes more open and inclusive.

On Thursday, Vice-Premier Ma Kai conferred medals on the 50 foreign experts and praised their contribution to the country's development at an awards ceremony in Beijing.

Li observed that the foreign experts in China include both young and old, and the combination of their brainpower and great experience could "help yield a greater boost to China's modernization process and world peace and development".

He said China is offering greater openness, inclusiveness and convenience for outstanding foreign talent, and the country will speed up facilitation of their application for a permanent residence permit.

Li and others also greeted foreign ambassadors and envoys assuming their new offices in China. Li said China is committed to peace and development, and will join hands with countries to "achieve robust, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth".

As the leaders attended a reception on Friday evening, Li, in a speech, reiterated China's concept of "building the community of shared destiny".

Su Ge, president of China Institute of International Studies, noted that China's diplomacy this year has demonstrated greater readiness to contribute to global governance, including hosting the G20 Leaders Summit in early September.

"China's tangible actions are showing to the world that it is a contributor and a mover for world peace, common development and international cooperation," Su said.

Earlier Friday morning, leaders joined veterans, family members of martyrs and representatives from all walks of life gathered at the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tian'anmen Square.

They attended a ceremony to honor deceased national heroes on the annual Martyrs' Day.

Friday marked the third Martyrs' Day on the eve of the National Day, since China's legislature approved Sept 30 as Martyrs' Day in 2014.

A red carpet covered paths surrounding the monument, and attendees presented flowers in memory of the people's heroes.

This year is also the 80th anniversary of the Long March, a famous military maneuver carried out by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China in the early 1930s.

Contact the writer at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn

Xinhua contributed to this story.