The second part of a mass pageantry celebrating the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China highlighted the country's reform and opening-up with nine formations marching past the Tian'anmen Square Tuesday.
The leading formation presented a huge portrait of Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of the reform and opening-up pioneered in 1978.
Chinese communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their chief representative, established the Deng Xiaoping Theory and made the historic decision of implementing reform and opening-up, ushering in socialism with Chinese characteristics, said an official narrator of the pageantry.
The following two formations marked the beginning of China's reform in rural areas and the ground-breaking achievements in the special economic zones.
A formation surrounding a huge portrait of Jiang Zemin marched through Tian'anmen Square.
Chinese communists, with Comrade Jiang Zemin as their chief representative, formed the Theory of Three Represents and successfully advanced the socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century, the narrator said.
A formation named "One Country, Two Systems" followed, with compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and masses from all walks of life waving flags and cheering to wish the motherland a "happy birthday."
There was also a formation paying tribute to the arrival of the 21st century.
Then came a formation surrounding a huge portrait of Hu Jintao.
Chinese communists, with Comrade Hu Jintao as their chief representative, formed the Scientific Outlook on Development, having upheld and developed the socialism with Chinese characteristics at a new historical starting point, the narrator said.
Two following formations paid tribute to solidarity of Chinese people against major natural disasters, and highlighted the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Yang Yong, a parader with the Olympics-themed formation, said the National Day parade and mass pageantry demonstrated the superiority of the socialist system.
"Our country is getting stronger, and our life keeps getting better and better," Yang said.
Yan Rui, who was also in the formation, said each formation of the pageantry represented a story of China's national rejuvenation.
"Since the reform and opening-up, China has been moving closer to center stage, and it is becoming more and more closely connected with other countries and regions in the world," Yan said.
Meng Qingchao, another parader, said great changes have taken place in China over the past seven decades, and people's livelihoods have improved significantly since the reform and opening-up. (Updated)
