50th anniversary of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953)

(Xinhua, 24-10-2000)

China will issue a commemorative folder prior to the 50th anniversary of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953). The background of the folder shows the broken bridge across the Yalu River, the boundary river between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The 944-meter-long bridge, built in 1905 in the port city of Dandong in northeast China, was a major target of US bombing raids, and only a 396-meter section survived the war. Printed on the back cover is the chronology of the war. The folder contains two commemorative envelopes. One is printed with the design of a commemorative tower erected in Dandong with inscription written by President Jiang Zemin. The other has a few words written by Hong Xuezhi, former deputy commander of the Chinese volunteer army. Also in the folder are two postcards, carrying pictures of Chinese People's Volunteer Army entering DPRK for the war and of late Chairman Mao Zedong calling on the whole country to safeguard the homeland and fight against US aggressors in Korea, together with the volunteer army song and an operation map of the volunteer army. Stamps on the postcards are of the design of the Great Wall, comparing the Chinese military to a steel Great Wall. A total of 2,000 folders will be issued on October 25 at a price of 65 yuan per set. Folder number 1950, 1953 and 2000 will be permanently preserved by the Dandong-based Chinese Memorial Hall of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the martyrs cemetery in Shenyang, capital city of Liaoning, and Liaoning Provincial Museum of Modern and Contemporary History respectively.