Yu Zhengsheng (C, rear), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaks at a seminar commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Xi'an Incident in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 12, 2016. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Monday called for constant efforts to promote the "great patriotic spirit of the Chinese nation."
Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a seminar commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Xi'an Incident.
On Dec. 12, 1936, the Xi'an incident took place in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, when Kuomintang (KMT) generals Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng took Chiang Kai-shek hostage and demanded that he stop the civil war and unite with the Communist Party of China (CPC) in a national war against Japanese aggression.
The incident and its peaceful settlement ended a decade of civil war, resulting in the second round of cooperation between the KMT and the CPC, the turning point for national resistance against Japanese aggression, according to Yu.
Yu hailed the spirit of patriotism and solidarity displayed by the two generals, the CPC and the Chinese people in the incident as a precious treasure and a source encouragement for overcoming difficulties.
Yu stressed carrying forward the spirit of patriotism, the strengthening of confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and adherence to the socialist road with Chinese characteristics to defend and build the country.
He called for upholding the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle and opposition to "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and their activities. "Efforts should be made to promote the integrated social and economic development across the Strait and strengthen the national and cultural identity of compatriots on both sides," according to Yu.
Yu also called for cherishing the hard-earned development achievements, safeguarding the political situation of stability and unity, and further consolidating and developing the broadest possible patriotic united front.
The will, wisdom and power of all parties, organizations, ethnic groups and segments of society and all the people who love the Chinese nation should be pooled for the country's "two centenary goals" and the Chinese dream of great national renewal, Yu said.
The two centenary goals refer to: completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the CPC's centenary in 2021, and building a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious country by the centenary of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 2049.
