Safeguard national unity, Xi urges

President honors Sun Yat-sen as hero, calls on all Chinese to work for country's rejuvenation

President Xi Jinping sent a strong signal of safeguarding national unity and fighting separatists at a high-profile ceremony on Friday to mark the 150th birthday of a statesman who was widely respected by people on the Chinese mainland and in Taiwan.

"We will never allow any people, organization or political party, at any time, in any way, to split from China any part of its territory," Xi said during an hourlong speech at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.