About 3,000 delegates from across the country attend a grand gathering on May 4, 2009 in Beijing, to mark the 90th anniversary of the "May Fourth Movement." (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Photo Gallery>>>

  　BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China celebrated the Chinese Youth Day Monday, also the 90th anniversary of an important cultural and political movement in modern Chinese history that fought imperialism and promoted democracy and science.

    A grand gathering to mark the 90th anniversary of the "May Fourth Movement" was held Monday morning at the Great Hall of the People with the top leaders of the country and about 3,000 delegates from nationwide present.

    They included Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang.

The nine members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee -- Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang -- are present at a grand gathering in Beijing, capital of China, on May 4, 2009, the Chinese Youth Day, to mark the 90th anniversary of the "May Fourth Movement."(Xinhua/Fan Rujun) Photo Gallery>>>

    In a speech at the gathering, Li Changchun called on young people in the country to further promote the spirit of the "May Fourth Movement" and embrace "patriotism," "diligence," and "devotion".

    The "May Fourth Movement" had bred the great spirit of patriotism, progress, democracy and science, said Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

    The spirit was a precious spiritual wealth to inspire the Chinese people to be united and hard-working in rejuvenating the Chinese nation, he said.

    The "May Fourth Movement" started with mass student protests on May 4, 1919 against the government's response to the Treaty of Versailles that imposed unfair treaties on China and undermined the country's sovereignty.

    It then spearheaded a national campaign to overthrow the feudal society and promote scientific and democratic ideas.

    "We have seen many young people devoted themselves to the revival of great China since the 'May Fourth Movement'," said DengXiquan, an expert from China Juvenile Research Center. "The movement's legacy is deeply rooted and powerful. China needs it now to unite people to work for a better country."

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), addresses a grand gathering in Beijing, capital of China, on May 4, 2009, the Chinese Youth Day, to mark the 90th anniversary of the "May Fourth Movement."(Xinhua/Fan Rujun) Photo Gallery>>>

    The past 90 years have shown that upholding the leadership of the CPC has always been the fundamental guarantee to drive forward all social undertakings of the country, Li said in the speech.

    "As long as we uphold the leadership of the CPC, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation would certainly be realized," he said.

    The past 90 years have also shown that keeping to the socialist road with Chinese characteristics is the only and correct choice to make the country strong and prosperous, rejuvenate the nation and enable the people to live a happy life, he said.

    Li urged the people to redouble their efforts in cherishing the hard-won socialist road with Chinese characteristics, which echoed the ideals and pursuits of generations of CPC members.

    "I think the legacy of the 'May Fourth Movement' is the deep love of our people and country," said Li Ning, an undergraduate student of the China University of Geosciences in his last year on campus.

    To Zhang Du, president of the Peking University's Student Union, a person's love of his country and people is not an abstract idea.

    "It develops with time," he said. "Today, a young person combines his personal dream with the fate of our people and country. He not only works hard for himself but also to serve the people. And this will be a life of significance."

    In his speech, Li Changchun spoke highly of the young people's role in the country.

    The young people have always been the most active force in the country, and they are the future of the nation, he said.

    Young people have made great contributions to the country's causes of revolution, construction and reform since the founding of the CPC, he said.

    Li called on the young people to boost their confidence and embrace the challenges as the country's economy is affected by the global financial crisis.

    He urged young people to link their personal pursuits with the future of the country and the nation.

    The young people were also urged to study hard, be innovative and pay attention to their moral cultivation.

    President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao visited two universities in Beijing and met with students, respectively on Saturday and Sunday.

    Hu urged young Chinese to embrace "patriotism," "diligence," "practice" and "devotion" to rejuvenate the Chinese nation during his visit to the China Agricultural University on Saturday.

    And Wen talked with students from the prestigious Tsinghua University on Sunday, urging them to bind their own destinies with that of the nation.

    In another move to remember the historic event, a poetry recitation performance was held Monday night at the National Center for the Performing Arts. Featuring poems written by revolutionary forerunners, the recitation drew nearly 1,000 people, including Li Changchun and students from Beijing-based universities.

About 3,000 delegates from across the country attend a grand gathering in Beijing, capital of China, on May 4, 2009, the Chinese Youth Day, to mark the 90th anniversary of the "May Fourth Movement."(Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng) Photo Gallery>>>

China's president asks students to embrace "patriotism, diligence"

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) talks with teachers and students in a greenhouse during his visit to the China Agricultural University, in Beijing, May 2, 2009.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- President Hu Jintao on Saturday urged young Chinese to embrace "patriotism," "diligence," "practice" and "devotion" to rejuvenate the Chinese nation.

    Young people should courageously shoulder their historic mission and work hard with the whole nation to build socialism with Chinese characteristics, Hu said. Full story

Chinese premier inspires young Chinese ahead of Youth Day 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd L) receives a paint gift from a student of Tsinghua University, in Beijing, capital of China, May 3, 2009. Wen attended a symposium on Sunday with student representatives from Tsinghua University, who have chosen to work in the vast western regions or at the grassroots level after graduation.(Xinhua/Ju Peng) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday encouraged young Chinese students to dedicate their lives to the people and bind their own destinies with that of the nation.

    Wen made the call at a symposium with some 100 students of the prestigious Tsinghua University, who have chosen to work in China's less-developed western regions or at the grassroots level after graduation.Full story