Xi leads Martyr's Day ceremony

In a ceremony on Sept 2, 2015, in which commemorative medals were conferred upon veterans and civilians who fought in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), Xi underscored that a nation of hope cannot be without heroes, and a promising country cannot be without pioneers.

All national heroes are the backbone of the Chinese nation, and their stories and spirit offer immense strength for the nation to march forward, he said.

Xi again spoke of the need to honor heroes at an event in September 2019 in which national medals were conferred upon role models. On that occasion, he said that only when everyone strives to be a hero can a nation give rise to heroes from one generation to the next.