Xi pays tribute to national heroes on Martyrs' Day

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders presented flower baskets to fallen national heroes at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing on Wednesday morning to mark the country's Martyrs' Day.

Since the first Martyrs' Day, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has maintained the tradition of paying homage to fallen heroes on the day.

The other leaders included Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng. They were joined by representatives from all walks of life at the ceremony.

At around 10:00, all attendees sang the national anthem, followed by a moment of silence in tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Chinese people and the development of the People's Republic of China.

Nine large flower baskets were placed in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes.

Xi and other leaders walked up to the foot of the monument, where Xi straightened the ribbons on the baskets. Then, they walked around the monument to pay their tributes.

Other attendees laid flowers at the foot of the monument.

In 2014, China's top legislature adopted the decision to establish Martyrs' Day. Observed on Sept 30, one day before National Day, the day commemorates those who gave their lives for national independence and prosperity.

This year marks the 77th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China and the 105th founding anniversary of the CPC.

It also marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, which lasted from 1934 to 1936. A themed exhibition is being held at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing to commemorate that epic military trek.

During the Long March, the CPC-led Red Army soldiers braved raging rivers, snow-covered mountains and treacherous grasslands, with some marching as far as 12,500 kilometers.

The arduous journey helped lay the foundation for the eventual victory of the Chinese revolution.

Xi pays tribute to national heroes on Martyrs' Day

China on Tuesday said a reported tool being pushed by some European Union (EU) member states is a typical example of protectionism and unilateralism that would disrupt bilateral trade and the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce responded to a media inquiry regarding reports that some EU member states are preparing a joint document calling on the European Commission to accelerate the development of a so-called European "301" tool and take tougher measures against China.

The tool referenced in the reports would not resolve any issues and could even backfire, the spokesperson said, noting that the EU itself was once a victim of such measures.

As an important member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the EU has long presented itself as a defender of multilateralism. If it fails to set an example and instead takes the lead in violating WTO rules, it would seriously undermine the rules-based multilaterl trading system, the spokesperson said.

China and the EU are currently engaged in dialogue under their trade and investment consultation mechanism and are exploring methods to address each other's concerns, according to the spokesperson.

If the EU engages in dialogue and consultation with China while at the same time stepping up pressure against China, it would seriously damage mutual trust, disrupt the overall consultation process and affect broader China-EU economic and trade cooperation, the spokesperson said.

China called on the EU to stay on the right track of managing differences through dialogue.

China will closely follow the EU's subsequent moves, the spokesperson said, adding that if the EU insists on introducing discriminatory and restrictive measures targeting Chinese companies or products, China will respond firmly to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese industries.

China says reported European '301' tool typical act of protectionism, unilateralism