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Soldiers stand before the start of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, near the Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
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BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of crisp-uniformed Chinese servicemen and women, tanks, armored personnel carriers and missiles assembled along the Chang'an Avenue in downtown Beijing Thursday morning, ready for a once-in-a-decade grand parade.
The military parade, centerpiece of the celebration marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China, will showcase China's achievements in national defense and military modernization over the past six decades.
A total of 56 regiments on the ground and in the air will join the parade. The ground phalanxes, 14 of them on feet and 30 in wheeled transport, stretched along the Chang'an Avenue for nearly 3 kilometers to the east of the Tian'anmen Square.
Twelve flying squads consisting of 151 warplanes are on standby at several airports near Beijing. The 12 echelons of warplanes are to fly over the Tian'anmen Square after the march-past of ground phalanxes.
Servicemen and women participating in the parade are all from China's elite troops, which are distinguished for their glorious records in wartime and outstanding performances in diverse military missions, including earthquake and disaster relief, anti-terror, maintaining stability and international peace-keeping operations.
The 14 phalanxes on feet are composed of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Second Artillery Force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the People's Armed Police Force and the reserved force.
PLA's young and mysterious Special Forces, whose mission includes anti-terror and emergency response, will make their debut at the parade.
Fifty-two types of new weapon systems developed by Chinese engineers, including China's newest model of intercontinental nuclear-capable missiles, will be displayed.
Other cutting-edge weaponry would include China's new generation of main battle tanks, sophisticated radar, airborne early warning and control aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and satellite communication devices. All are made in China.
Lieutenant General Fang Fenghui, general director of the parade, told Xinhua that most of the weapons would be displayed in the parade for the first time. "Some types of equipment were displayed in previous military parades, but what to be shown this time are their upgraded models."
Compared with the National Day military parade 10 years ago, Thursday's parade involves fewer personnel and more equipment, fewer army troops and more troops from navy, air force and the PLA Second Artillery Force.
Fang said the formation of the phalanxes shows the ongoing transformation of the PLA from a labor-intensive to a technology-intensive force and its ability to carry out diverse military missions.
He said the military parade will "showcase PLA's firm determination to safeguard national security and interests and maintain world peace."
The military parade would help "enhance the people's pride in the country and army and inspire patriotism among the general public," he said.
All the phalanxes on feet will goose-stepped past Tian'anmen. In between the two ornamental pillars standing on each side of Tian'anmen Rostrum, soldiers will have to take exactly 128 goosesteps in 96 meters. Each step should be exactly 0.75 meters.
Over the past months, participating servicemen and women, most of whom were born in the 1980s and 1990s, had trained for nearly 12 hours a day, even in summer when temperatures reached 40 Celsius.
The grand military parade will be followed with a mass pageant involving about 100,000 citizens and 60 simulated floats.
Aircraft take off to fly over Tian'anmen Square
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The aircraft to overfly the Chang'an Avenue and Tian'anmen Square at the end of a military parade took off from their bases Thursday morning and headed for the center stage of China's National Day celebration in downtown Beijing.
All the the 151 fighters, bombers, helicopters and other types of military planes, led by an Early Warning and Control Aircraft, will meet at their rendezvous point to build up 12 aerial formations. Full story
Grand rally for National Day to showcase China's growing strength
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- China is to hold a grand rally Thursday morning in Beijing to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
The two-hour celebration at the center of the dressed-up capital city will include a massive military parade and a giant pageant involving some 200,000 people in front of Tian'anmen Rostrum, on which late Chairman Mao Zedong announced the founding of New China. Full story
Beijing ready for National Day celebration
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Clean streets replete with national flags, major road intersections adorned with ornate potted plants, Beijing is in gala attire early Thursday for the massive celebration commemorating the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
The event will showcase how the country explores the road of building socialism with Chinese characteristic in the past decades, and what great achievements it has attained. Full story
Int'l press on Tian'anmen Square to cover China's National Day celebrations
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of overseas reporters gathered Thursday morning at Tian'anmen Square to cover the well-prepared celebrations marking the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
Alongside the Chang'an Avenue, reporters had their cameras erected and many were busy interviewing participants to the event. Full story
Hundreds of thousands swarm into Tian'anmen Square for National Day celebration
BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- About 200,000 soldiers and civilians gather on Tian'anmen Square and alongside Chang'an Avenue Thursday morning to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Most of them are participants of a military parade and a civilian pageant, slated for 10:00 o'clock in the morning. Full story
Special Report: 60th Anniversary of Founding of PRC
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