Top Communist Party of China (CPC) and state leaders pose for a group photo with the representatives attending a symposium in Beijing, on September 14 (XINHUA)

China on Monday paid tribute to 100 heroes and models who made outstanding contributions to the founding of the People's Republic of China and 100 others who have inspired the nation in the past six decades.

Top Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao met with representatives of the heroes and models and relatives of the deceased ones who were here to attend a symposium honoring them.

Top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao, top political advisor Jia Qinglin, and other senior leaders including Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang also met with the delegates.

Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, greeted the delegates at the Great Hall of the People. He congratulated the representatives on the honor, offered his condolences to the deceased heroes' relatives, and paid homage to all those who have made great contribution to the birth and growth of New China.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, attended the symposium and delivered a speech.

"The fact that the top leaders met with the delegates and some of their relatives highlights the nation and the Party's care for the heroes," said Li.

The move of selecting the heroes and models was an important part of the activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), he said.

Li said the process itself was also a patriotic lesson for officials and the general public.

The activity, launched in May, attracted about 100 million people to cast votes, sources with the organizer of the activity said. And the 200 heroes were finally picked out from 300 candidates.

"The heroes, despite their differences in historical time and post, share many things in common, such as loyalty to the country, love for the people and selfless devotion," Li said.

These were spiritual treasures formed in the great history of Chinese revolution, construction and reform led by the Party, he said.

Li called on the whole nation to learn from these heroes and pass down their moving stories and lofty spirit to generations to come.

"Their noble spirit should be a lasting inspiration for the people to make new achievements," said Liu Yunshan, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, who presided over the symposium.

Delegates like Li Yazhong, a descendent of Li Dazhao (1888-1927), one of the main founders of the CPC, and Zhang Yunquan, an official with the Bureau for Letters and Calls in eastern Jiangsu Province, gave speeches at the symposium.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2009)