China planning national Martyrs' Day  

中國擬將9月30日設為烈士紀念日 國家舉行紀念活動

草案稱，1949年9月30日是人民英雄紀念碑的奠基日，在國慶節的前一天開展烈士紀念活動，既能充分體現“國慶勿忘祭先烈”的情懷、突出國家褒揚烈士的主題，又能與黨和國家領導人10月1日上午向人民英雄紀念碑敬獻花籃等烈士紀念活動相銜接，因此草案將9月30日確定為烈士紀念日。[查看全文]

China is planning to set September 30 as Martyrs' Day to commemorate those who lost their lives fighting for national independence and prosperity.

National commemoration activities will be held on the date, according to a draft bill submitted for discussion at the ongoing bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, to be held from Monday to Sunday.

The public have increasingly called for such a date to be set, said Li Liguo, minister of civil affairs, at the session.

The top legislature's setting the date will be significant to fostering patriotism and bolstering "core socialist values" among the public, he said.

The date is one day before China's National Day, when Chinese leaders lay flowers at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square, downtown Beijing.