国内英语新闻:China marks 100th birthday of late vice president

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A symposium was held at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of late Chinese Vice President Rong Yiren.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, attended the symposium. Zhang also met with Rong's relatives.

"Rong was a great patriot, communist fighter, who made important contributions to national prosperity and rejuvenation, and the people's happiness," Zhang addressed the symposium, which was presided over by Vice President Li Yuanchao.

Rong was an outstanding representative of the country's industrial and commercial sector and a pioneer in China's reform and opening up, said Zhang.

He was also an outstanding state leader, contributing greatly to the establishment of China's socialist legal system and the improvement of the NPC system, and multiparty cooperation and political consultation system, according to Zhang.

Rong, who died in 2005 at the age of 89, was vice president from 1993 to 1998. He also served as vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and vice chairman of China's top political advisory body. He was the founder of the China International Trust and Investment Company.

"By commemorating Comrade Rong Yiren, we are learning from his patriotism, his loyalty to the Party and people and his confidence in communism and socialism with Chinese characteristics," Zhang said.

Authorities should also learn from his spirit and work styles such as seeking truth from facts, daring to shoulder responsibility and his self-discipline, he said.

Zhang said Rong's life and remarkable achievements proved the importance of the united front work, reform and opening up, and proved the superiority and vitality of the socialist economic system.