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China’s Communist Party sticks to the script on a day for young and old
- Audience of more than 70,000 fills Tiananmen Square for carefully choreographed celebration
- While Xi Jinping gets much of the attention, younger faces also take centre stage
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It was a celebration on a grand scale as the Communist Party marked its centenary in the heart of Beijing on Thursday, seeking to reinforce political messages and calling on young Chinese to take part in its vision for the future.
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Security was tight as an audience of more than 70,000 filled Tiananmen Square – chosen from party organs, government bodies and research and scientific institutes, as well as dozens of people representing ethnic minorities who were flown in from across the country.
Carefully choreographed and of a similar scale to past National Day celebrations in the capital, the two-hour event started with a flyover of People’s Liberation Army warplanes and a 100-gun salute. There was no military parade but it featured thousands of performers, an honour guard and military band.
Much attention was focused on party general secretary Xi Jinping and the former leaders who appeared, and did not appear, alongside him at the Gate of Heavenly Peace, from where Xi gave a spirited address overlooking the vast square.
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Xi Jinping leads celebrations marking centenary of China’s ruling Communist Party
Xi Jinping leads celebrations marking centenary of China’s ruling Communist Party
For China watchers it was a rare opportunity for clues about the leadership and party elders – Xi’s predecessor Hu Jintao, now white-haired, was there on the rostrum, as was former Politburo Standing Committee member Song Ping, who at 104 is older than the party itself.
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But former leader Jiang Zemin, 94, and past premier Zhu Rongji, 92, were absent, prompting speculation about their health.
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