Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday spoke highly of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) great role and monumental contribution in safeguarding China's national sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and security.

"We are in profound memory of" the older-generation proletarian revolutionaries and militarists and numerous revolutionary martyrs whose "historic contribution will stay with mountains and rivers, and shine with the Sun and the Moon," said the president.

Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), said this Friday at a workshop which was sponsored by the CMC for the army veterans to mark the 80th anniversary of the PLA founding.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, Hu gave sincere salute and lofty respect to all "old comrades" who have made enormous contribution to China's revolution, development, reform drive and the army building.

In his speech, Hu recalled the past experiences of the Chinese army and summarized the army's fundamental and kernel tradition as "obeying to the direction of the Party, serving the people, and being brave and good at fighting".

China's three generation leaders Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin had always placed emphases on inheriting and displaying the excellent tradition of the Party and the army, and being adhered to the nature, motto, true qualities and style of the army, according to Hu.

Hu urged the whole army to be loyal to the Party, socialism, the motherland and the people, forever.

Guo Boxiong, member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and vice-chairman of the CMC, presided over the gathering at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

Also present were state councilor and defense minister Cao Gangchuan, who is also member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and vice-chairman of the CMC, Xu Caihou, who is member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat and vice-chairman of the CMC, as well as some former military leaders.

On August 1, 1927, CPC-led armed forces held an uprising in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, which is regarded as the founding day for the PLA. This year, a series of official programs are to be held nationwide to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the army's Day.