BEIJING - The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Thursday held a symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of the birth of Mao Zedong.

The symposium, at the Great Hall of People on Thursday morning was presided over by Liu Yunshan and attended by Chinese president Xi Jinping, and other leaders including Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli.

Xi addressed the symposium.

Before the symposium, the seven top leaders visited Mao's maosoleum in Tiananmen Square, making three bows toward Mao's seated statue and paying a visit to the remains of Mao.

Mao was born on December 26, 1893 and died on September 9, 1976.

Workers hang a new Mao Zedong portrait on the Tian'anmen Rostrum before celebrations of the National Day, in Beijing, Sept 28, 2013. October 1 marks the 64th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the portrait of Mao is changed at least once a year.[Photo/Asianewsphoto]