Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state attended a ceremony in Tian'anmen Square, central Beijing, on Thursday morning to present flower baskets to fallen national heroes.

The event was held to commemorate the Martyrs' Day, which falls on September 30, a day ahead of China's National Day.

The other leaders included Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan.

Representatives from all walks of life joined them. Among them, recipients of the July 1 Medal, the highest honor of the Communist Party of China, which has marked its centenary this year, also attended the ceremony.

The attendees sang the national anthem at 10 a.m. and observed a moment of silence to remember those who devoted their lives to the liberation of the Chinese people and the building of the People's Republic of China, which was founded in 1949.

Nine huge flower baskets were placed in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes at the square. Xi and other leaders walked up to the foot of the monument, where he straightened the red ribbons on the baskets before leading other senior officials in a walk around the monument to pay tribute to the fallen heroes.

First commemorated in 2014, China's Martyrs' Day honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for national causes. It is one of China's three national memorial days. The country also annually marks the Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression on September 3 and the National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims on December 13.

In 2018, China's top legislature passed a law to protect the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs and provide better care for their family members.

Martyrs, as defined by the Chinese government, are those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and prosperity and the welfare of the people in modern times, or after the First Opium War (1840-1842).

Incomplete statistics show that China has about 20 million martyrs, but only 1.96 million had their names documented by the government.

In recent years, the Ministry of Veteran Affairs has stepped up efforts to locate the remains or burial sites of martyrs and find their relatives.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: A ceremony presenting flower baskets to China's fallen national heroes is held in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, China, September 30, 2021. /CFP)