Symposium marks 100th birthday of late Chinese Vice Premier

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (C), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends a symposium held to mark the 100th birthday anniversary of Yu Qiuli, a former senior Chinese leader, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 14, 2014. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

A symposium was held to commemorate the centenary of late Chinese Vice Premier Yu Qiuli in Beijing on Friday.

Yu, who was born in 1914 and died in 1999, was a pioneer in New China's petroleum industry and an outstanding leader in economic work.

He was a member of the Political Bureau for the 11th and 12th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a Standing Committee member of the former CPC Central Advisory Commission.

He also served as a former member and deputy secretary-general of the Central Military Commission.

Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended Friday's symposium and met with Yu's relatives prior to the event.

Vice Premier Liu Yandong recalled Yu's "outstanding contributions" to the country at the symposium.

Liu called on the people to carry on the fine traditions of the old generation of revolutionaries to contribute to the country's reform and the Chinese nation's rejuvenation.