Xi calls for emulation of Hu Yaobang

CPC Central Committee honors former Party leader on the 100th anniversary of his birth

The Communist Party of China Central Committee held a symposium on Friday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to commemorate what would have been the 100th birthday of Hu Yaobang.

President Xi Jinping spoke about Hu's glorious achievements, saying that Hu, the former general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, had made outstanding contributions to national independence and liberation, socialist revolution, and exploration and creation of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Hu, who died in 1989, was extolled as a loyal communist soldier, great proletarian revolutionist and statesman, outstanding political worker of the military and prominent leader of the Party.

"To commemorate Hu Yaobang is to learn from his noble character, which was based on keeping the faith and being dedicated," said Xi.

The president asked all CPC members to have similar firm faith and ideals, and to be more confident in Chinese socialist theories and systems.

Xi also urged CPC members to learn from Hu's devotion to the people and to promote a clean political environment and social ethics.

Hu emphasized that CPC members must regard "seeking truths from facts" as a basic requirement, Xi noted.

To honor Hu, China is releasing a TV documentary series, Hu Yaobang, which will be broadcast on State TV network CCTV starting on Friday, Hu's 100th birthday, as well as a photo album containing 496 rare pictures of Hu, the producers said.

(China Daily 11/21/2015 page1)