Communist China celebrates 60th anniversary

Today, October 1st, marks the 60th anniversary of communist rule in China – an era that has been defined with great success and development for the country.

Leaders in Beijing and 30,000 specially invited guests observed the day with an epic celebration that was reported to be larger in scale than the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Visitors and residents of Beijing had limited access to the city’s biggest tourist attractions, and Beijing Capital International Airport was closed for over 3 hours.

The event featured a parade of singers, dancers, and soldiers, a fireworks display, and a military procession that flaunted the country’s latest surface and missile technology.

President Hu Jintao gave a speech from the same spot that Mao Zedong stood 60 years ago to declare the foundation of the People’s Republic of China. “Today a socialist China that faces the future is standing tall and firm in the East,” he stated. “The development and progress of the new China over the past 60 years fully proved that only socialism can save China, and only reform and opening up can ensure the development of China,”.

No expense was spared for the celebration. Massive cloud-seeding efforts made yesterday proved successful, and Beijing enjoyed clear, blue skies for the day.

For pictures and an impressive video of the event, head over to the BBC for more coverage.