BEIJING, Aug 29 (INP): Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend a grand gathering to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will deliver an important speech at the event.

A military parade and mass pageantry will be held following the gathering, said Wang Xiaohui, executive deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.

China will hold a grand military parade, the largest in two decades, on October 1 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the State Council Information Office announced on Thursday.

The scale of this year's military parade will exceed those of the 50th and 60th anniversaries, and the parade for the 70th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan.

Some advanced weapons will make their maiden appearances in the equipment formation of the parade, demonstrating the Chinese national defense's level of development. All equipment that will be on display in the parade is domestically made.

The military parade is not aimed at any specific country or region, the office said at the Thursday press conference.

A ceremony to award highest state honors to 36 national heroes will be held to celebrate the 70th anniversary on October 1.

China will also award souvenir medals to people who have made contributions to the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Commemorative coins and stamps for the 70th anniversary will also be released. An online exhibition will be arranged for netizens to appreciate China's achievements over the last 70 years.

INP/J/SB