President Xi Jinping addresses an event marking the 70th anniversary of Chinese People's Volunteers army in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, Oct 23, 2020.

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping said on Friday China will never allow its national sovereignty, security and development interests to be undermined.

China will never allow any forces to violate or separate its sacred territory, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said at a meeting in Beijing to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a meeting marking the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fight in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 23, 2020. (DING LIN/XINHUA)

Xi paid the highest tribute to revolutionary forefathers, saying those who contributed to the victory of the war have never been forgotten  

Attendees paid tribute in silence to martyrs in the war at the meeting. 

China never seeks hegemony or expansion and firmly opposes hegemonism and power politics, Xi said.

Chinese people are firm and confident while looking ahead to the bright prospect of the national rejuvenation, he said. 

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Xi said the practices of blackmailing, blocking and exerting maximum pressure on other countries lead nowhere.

Xi Jinping and other leaders pose for a group photo with representatives of the recipients of memorial medals prior to a meeting marking the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fight in the War to Resist Us Aggression and Aid Korea, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 23, 2020. (XIE HUANCHI/XINHUA)

Seeking peaceful development and win-win cooperation is the right way forward, while pursuing unilateralism, protectionism and extreme egoism leads nowhere, he said.

Important milestone

During the meeting, Xi said the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea defied the invasion and expansion of imperialism and safeguarded the security of New China.

The people and armies of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) defeated their armed-to-teeth rival and shattered the myth of invincibility of the US army, Xi said

The war also safeguarded the peaceful life of the Chinese people, stabilized the situation in the Korean Peninsula and upheld peace in Asia and the world, Xi said.

He said the great victory of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea will be forever etched in the history of the Chinese nation and the history of peace, development and progress of humankind. 

He paid the highest tribute to revolutionary forefathers, saying those who contributed to the victory of the war have never been forgotten.  

The great victory of the war is a declaration that the Chinese people have stood firm in the East, and an important milestone in the Chinese nation's march toward the great rejuvenation, Xi said.

Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) veterans enter the venue of the meeting marking the 70th anniversary of the CPV entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fight in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 23, 2020. (RAO AIMIN / XINHUA)

Great friendship

The people and armies of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) forged great friendship in the war, Xi said.

During the war, the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) received care and support from the party, government and people of DPRK, Xi said.

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Chinese and DPRK people and armies went through thick and thin, forging great friendship with blood in the war, he said.  

Together, they defeated their armed-to-teeth rival and shattered the myth of invincibility of the US army.

A meeting marking the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fight in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 23, 2020. (ZHAI JIANLAN / XINHUA)

Stronger nation

The president called for continuous efforts to build up China's comprehensive national strength, and faster moves in modernizing national defense and the armed forces.

He also stressed upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China and making the party even stronger.

He stressed the principle of people first, saying that everything should be done for the sake of the people and should rely on the people.