CHINA/FILE: Chinese leaders celebrate the anniversary of the 1911 Xinhai revolution which marked the end of 2000 years of imperial rule

Record ID: 872752

  • Title: CHINA/FILE: Chinese leaders celebrate the anniversary of the 1911 Xinhai revolution which marked the end of 2000 years of imperial rule
  • Date: 10th October 2011
  • Summary: BAND PLAYING JIANG BEING HELPED OUT OF HIS SEAT VARIOUS OF LEADERS WALKING OUT
  • Embargoed: 25th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Topics: History,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9ZGVKHDANF8Y5ZTQS72DOT27
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  • Story Text: Chinese leaders marked the eve of the centennial anniversary of the 1911 Xinhai revolution on Sunday (October 9) with a celebration in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, marking the end of a millennia of imperial rule.
    Chinese President Hu Jintao paid tribute to the armed uprising led by Sun Yat-sen that began on October 10, 1911 and triggered the collapse of the ruling Qing Dynasty.
    "It was a thoroughly modern, national and democratic revolution. The revolution of 1911 greatly freed the minds of the Chinese people, opened the flood gates for progress in China and explored a path for the development and progress of the Chinese nation," Hu told delegates.
    Hu was joined by former President Jiang Zemin, making a rare public appearance after widespread speculation in July that he was in failing health, even near death, after a heart attack. Jiang was supported on and off the stage by a helper.
    Hu used the occasion to call for more efforts to promote unification with self-ruled island Taiwan, which also commemorates the Xinhai revolution, marking October 10 as its National Day.
    "Mr. Sun Yat-sen once said, 'Unification is the hope of all Chinese people. With unification, the country's entire population will benefit; without unification, everybody will suffer.' Realizing unification by peaceful means best serves the fundamental interests of all Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots," he said.
    The 1911 revolution gave birth to the Republic of China in early 1912 under President Sun Yat-sen.
    Taiwan is still formally called the Republic of China after Nationalist forces fled there in 1949 to escape advanced Communist forces.
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