Chinese leaders join in National Day evening gala_China National People's Congress

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C), flanked by former president Jiang Zemin (2nd R) and other senior leaders, applauds as they watch the grand gala celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on the Tian'anmen Rostrum in central Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and other senior leaders arrived at the Tian'anmen Rostrum Thursday evening to join in a grand gala involving 60,000 participants to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Fireworks explode over the Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing during a grand gala marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Oct. 1, 2009.(Xinhua/Yang Shirao)

Fireworks are seen over the Tian'anmen Square in the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Yu)