Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)

Beijing, 21 December: Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong stressed importance of unity among China's different ethnic groups here Thursday [21 December] at the centenary of the birth of former Chinese Vice-President Wu Lanfu.

Wu Lanfu devoted his life to the Chinese people's liberation and socialist construction, Zeng said. Wu was respected and loved by Chinese people of all ethnic groups for his achievements in the unity and rejuvenation of the nation and its prosperity.

Wu was born in Inner Mongolia in 1906 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1925. He led the armed forces of the Mongolian nationality in the war against the Japanese.

After the war, he worked in Inner Mongolia and adhered to the self-governing policies in the ethnic minority's autonomous regions and realized the unity of east and west Inner Mongolia after two important meetings in 1946 and 1947.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Wu was elected as the leader of the CCP and the state, and he continued to work for the development of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region until he died in 1988.

Zeng said Wu's name was closely linked to China's revolution, construction and reform and he devoted his life to the country's liberation and unity, socialist modernization, reform and opening-up, and equality, unity and common prosperity of the Chinese people.

"We should pass on the spirit of Wu and strive to create a harmonious society and common prosperity of Chinese people of all ethnic groups," he said.