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Youth told to work for a better country

CHINA celebrated the Chinese Youth Day yesterday, also the 90th anniversary of an important cultural and political movement in modern Chinese history that fought imperialism and promoted democracy and science.

A grand gathering to mark the 90th anniversary of the "May Fourth Movement" was held yesterday morning at the Great Hall of the People with the top leaders of the country and about 3,000 delegates from nationwide present.

The "May Fourth Movement" had bred the great spirit of patriotism, progress, democracy and science, Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, told the gathering.

It was a precious spiritual wealth to inspire the Chinese people to be united and hard-working in rejuvenating the Chinese nation, he said.

The "May Fourth Movement" started with mass student protests on May 4, 1919 against the government's response to the Treaty of Versailles that imposed unfair treaties on China and undermined the country's sovereignty.

It then spearheaded a national campaign to overthrow the feudal society and promote scientific and democratic ideas.

"We have seen many young people who devoted themselves to the revival of China since the 'May Fourth Movement'," said Deng Xiquan, an expert from China Juvenile Research Center. "The movement's legacy is deeply rooted and powerful. China needs it now to unite people to work for a better country."

"I think the legacy of the 'May Fourth Movement' is the deep love of our people and country," said Li Ning, an undergraduate student of the China University of Geosciences in his last year on campus.

To Zhang Du, president of the Peking University's Student Union, a person's love of his country and people is not an abstract idea.

"It develops with time," he said. "Today, a young person combines his personal dream with the fate of our people and country. He not only works hard for himself but also to serve the people. And this will be a life of significance."

In his speech, Li urged the young people to study hard, be innovative and pay attention to their moral cultivation.






 

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