Staff Writer
The 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, will be celebrated tonight in Apia.
China’s Ambassador to Samoa HE Mr. Chao Xiaoliang, will host a reception for his country’s national event at the Sheraton Aggies Hotel.
Samoa established diplomatic relations with China in 1976 and has set up an Embassy in the capital Beijing under the same agreement for having a Chinese embassy in Apia.
China is one of Samoa’s major development partners. The most significant contribution China made recently in Samoa, was in support of the hosting of the XVI Pacific Games in Apia.
The founding of the People’s Republic of China was officially proclaimed by Mao Zedong, the Chairman of the Communist Party of China on 1 October 1949 in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
The official logo for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was officially unveiled by the State Council Information Office on 3 June 2019.
Many celebrations throughout China and overseas Chinese communities have been planned for the occassion. In early September, rehearsals took place in central Beijing for the military parade.
General Cai Zhijun of the Joint General Staff said in a press briefing that it will not be targeted “at any countries or districts” but rather would be “committed to safeguarding world peace and regional stability”.
It is expected to be bigger than the parades commemorating the 50th and 60th anniversary of the PRC, as well as the 2015 China Victory Day Parade.
Although a massive National Day fireworks display had been planned along the harbour in Hong Kong to celebate the 70th anniversary – as it has done every year since 1997, Hong Kong government cancelled them “for safety reasons” over the protests in the city that have lasted since March.