Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday called on the nation to learn from Zhu De, the late Chinese marshal who is considered to be one of the founding fathers of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Addressing a grand rally in the Great Hall of the People on the 120th anniversary of Zhu's birth, Hu said Zhu had worked tirelessly for the causes of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people up until his death.

"Zhu's deeds will inspire the whole Party and nation to continue to march forward on the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics," said Hu.

"The firm ideals and beliefs and superb political wisdom Comrade Zhu De exhibited in his lifelong fight for the Party and the people are extremely valuable and we should study and carry them forward forever," said Hu.

Hu called Zhu a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionist, a statesman, a strategist, one of the founders of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, one of the founding fathers of the People's Republic of China and an important member of the first-generation central leadership of the CPC with Mao Zedong at the core.

Zhu served as commander-in-chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Vice-Chairman of the People's Central Government, Chinese Vice-President and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Source: Xinhua