BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Paraders of a civilian formation featuring China's development in democracy marched through the Tian'anmen Square Thursday morning, celebrating the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

    In the middle of the formation was a float carrying a banner that reads "sticking to the people's congress system" and "upholding and perfecting the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC)."

    The people's congress system is China's fundamental political system, according to the Constitution of the country.

    In 1954, the First National People's Congress was convened in Beijing, marking the establishment of the people's congress system in China.

    The year 2009 also marks the 60th anniversary of the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, a basic political system in China.

    Under the system, the CPC, as the party in power, consults all non-Communist parties and representatives of non-party personages to reach a common understanding before making major decisions.

    Chinese President Hu Jintao described the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as "a patriotic United Front of the Chinese people, a major institution of the multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, and a main form to display socialist democracy in the country's political life."

    The CPPCC consists of representatives of the CPC and non-Communist parties, personages without party affiliation, and representatives of people's organizations, ethnic minorities and various social strata.

    Hu last month urged the CPPCC to "continue carrying out its functions of political consultation, democratic supervision, and participation and raising proposals in governance, in a practical and effective way" at a gathering to mark the 60th founding anniversary of the country's top political advisory body.

Solar panels at National Day parade highlight changes in China's energy use

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Solar panels held by a formation of energy workers at the National Day parade on Thursday demonstrated China's determination to shift to renewable energy in handling climate change.

    Surrounded by energy workers, a float carrying the sculptures of windmills and oil reserve containers, as well as a banner reading "Striving to develop clean energy," moving past Tian'anmen Square at the magnificent pageant marking New China's 60th anniversary of founding. Full story

China National Day parade highlights sci-tech accomplishments

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- China highlighted its achievements in the science and technology fields Thursday during the grand celebrations of the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic.

    A float representing the high-tech sector pulled into the Tian'anmen Square in the heart of Beijing, carrying a large television screen that showcased the country's progress in science and technology. Full story

"EARTH" T-shirt spells out China's green drive at National Day parade

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The word of "EARTH" printed on the T-shirts worn by the paraders of the environment formation were among a few English letters shown at New China's 60-year birthday pageant.

    They underscored China's resolution to cut pollution and protect ecological environment as it saw severe environmental degradation from years of double-digit economic expansion. Full story

Jumbo jet, high-speed train show "China drive" at National Day parade

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's fast changing transportation system could not be better reflected in its homegrown high-speed trains and jumbo jets project, as their sculptures were displayed on a float moving through the crowds Thursday morning at a pageant marking the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic.

    Sculptures of trains, airplanes and automobiles are placed on a model of multi-layer overpass, which signals China's capability of making the most leading transportation tools and its position as having the world's second longest highway after the United States. Full story

Hybrid rice shows China's agricultural progress on National Day parade

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- A giant model of hybrid rice species became an icon of the nation's agricultural achievement at the parade celebrating New China's 60th year of founding.

    Super hybrid rice, the latest masterpiece of agricultural scientist Yuan Longping, enables China to produce grains for another 75 million people a year out of the country's paddy fields. Full story

New China's road from farming nation to leading automaker

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- As the U.S. auto industry, an emblem of the American spirit, narrowly escaped a sudden collapse, China's auto makers have emerged as a symbol for the nation's industrial advance at New China's 60th founding anniversary parade.

    Placing at the center of a float representing the country's industrial development, the car reminds people of the bumpy road of China's industrialization. Full story

Quick View: "CPC legacy handed down from one generation to another"

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday sent to the world a clear signal of keeping to the socialist road as four huge portraits of the Communist Party of China (CPC) leaders in four generations marched past Beijing's Tian'anmen Square at the grand National Day parade, said Prof. Cai Xia with Party School of the Central Committee of CPC Thursday.

    The portraits of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, mounted on flower-bedecked floats and under the escorts of thousands of paraders, spearheaded four formations showcasing New China's development over the past 60 years. Full story

China's National Day paraders salute reform and opening-up drive

    BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Paraders in a grand celebration marking the 60th founding anniversary of New China on Thursday saluted late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping for the ongoing reform and opening-up drive he launched in 1978.

    Thousands of paraders in a formation under the theme of "Story in Spring" carried a huge portrait of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, chief architect of the reform and opening-up drive, while the "Story in Spring" song dedicated to Deng's contributions was played. Full story

Special Report: 60th Anniversary of Founding of PRC