(CNN) —
President Xi Jinping emphasized unity, development and strength as he addressed the world on the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China on Tuesday, saying: “There is no force that can shake the foundation of this great nation.”
Standing in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, where Mao Zedong declared the founding of the PRC on October 1, 1949, Xi added: “Today a socialist China is standing in front the world.”
“No force can stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation forging ahead,” he said in front of jubilant crowds cheering and waving Chinese flags.
Xi’s address was heavy on nationalist strokes, playing into the long-term Communist Party narrative of lifting China from the “century of humiliation” it suffered under the Qing Dynasty, amid invasion by colonial powers including the United Kingdom and Japan.
Xi pointedly brought up Hong Kong, where anti-government protests have been raging for more than three months, saying that China must remain “committed to the strategy of peaceful reinforcement of one country two systems,” the framework that governs the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.
“We will maintain long-term stability of Hong Kong and Macao, the development of cross-strait relations, and continue to strive for the complete unification of the country,” Xi said.
Hours after Xi’s speech, protests erupted across Hong Kong. Thousands of people joined an unauthorized march through the Causeway Bay shopping district, and police fired tear gas at protesters who blocked traffic and started building barricades in other parts of the city. Officers also used a water cannon tinted with blue dye in response to protesters throwing petrol bombs.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Jason Lee/Reuters
Fireworks explode over Tiananmen Square as performers take part in the evening gala marking National Day, the 70th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China, in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, October 1.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Chinese soldiers shout as they march in formation during the 70th anniversary parade.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Wang He/Getty Images
Planes from the Chinese People's Liberation Army air force fly in formation as part of the 70th anniversary celebration in Beijing.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Andy Wong/AP
Residents watch Chinese military planes fly in formation above the capital city.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping, center, stand on Tiananmen Gate above the large portrait of the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
PHOTO:
Pan Yulong /Xinhua via Getty Images
A formation of Dongfeng-17 conventional missiles are featured during the military parade in Beijing.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Participants wave flowers as they march next to a float commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of Communist China.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Ng Han Guan/AP
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, with former presidents Jiang Zemin, right, and Hu Jintao, left, attend the celebration in Beijing.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images
Balloons fly past a national flag at the end of a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images
A protester is seen carrying rocks on a street in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1. Pro-democracy demonstrations continue as the city observes China's National Day.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
PHOTO:
Ng Han Guan/AP
Army vehicles parade as members of a Chinese military honor guard march during the 70th anniversary celebrations in Beijing.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
PHOTO:
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Participants dressed as deliverymen wave during the parade,
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Andy Wong/AP
A child uses binoculars to watch the floats in the anniversary parade.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
PHOTO:
Andy Wong/AP
An onlooker photographs the Chinese military planes as they trail colored smoke during the celebrations.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images
Veterans and relatives of revolutionary martyrs take part in the National Day parade in Tiananmen Square.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
PHOTO:
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Chinese female militia members march in formation.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Sheng Jiapeng/CNS via Reuters
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam arrives at the celebrations in Beijing.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Laurel Chor/Getty Images
Pro-Beijing supporters wave Chinese flags on the Star Ferry in Hong Kong.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
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Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
Helicopters fly the flags of China and Hong Kong over Victoria Harbour during a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong.
Photos: In photos: China celebrates 70th National Day
PHOTO:
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
A screen shows Chinese President Xi Jinping delivering a speech at the start of the parade in Beijing.