China staged Thursday a grand National Day celebration on Tian'anmen Square at the heart of Beijing. Following are some quotes of people during the parade:

-- "We have a strong army now, and we have also made rapid economic development. My comrades who sacrificed their lives for New China can rest in peace now," said 80-year-old veteran Zhang Wentao, who joined the army in 1945 and fought the War of Liberation (1946-1949).

-- "I am really shocked at the organizing work of the parade. The whole event proceeded precisely and orderly," said a Taiwan businessman, who identified himself as Mr Zhong.

-- Henry Hu, President of Shue Yan University of Hong Kong, attended the 30th National Day celebration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1979. The country was in a slump after the chaotic decade of the Cultural Revolution, he recalled.

"But, in those years the sky in Beijing was always clear and blue, and there was not much traffic in the city because there were not many cars at all."

-- "I once told my son that he must stay healthy and live longer so that he can witness the centennial anniversary of the motherland's founding because I am confident of the future of China," said Wong Po-yan, a well-known Hong Kong entrepreneur.

Wong, 86, said he has always wished the motherland a strong nation so that it would no longer be bullied by others.

-- "Looking back over the past 60 years, we can notice that the so-called China model has an obvious feature, namely, the Chinese leaders and people can continuously rectify mistakes so as to achieve continuous development," said Cheng Li, director of the John L. Thornton China Center of the Brookings Institution in the United States.

-- "History reveals that China's development has never been a plain sailing, but the people who have their destiny in their own hands and are united will overcome all difficulties and obstacles and continuously make great historic achievements," said President Hu Jintao while making a speech at the Tian'anmen Rostrum.

-- "The appearance of the portraits of the four Communist Party of China (CPC) leaders (Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao) showed that the Party's legacy has been handed down from one generation to another since the founding of the CPC," said Prof. Cai Xia with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

She said China sent to the world a clear signal of keeping on the socialist track.

-- Renowned Chinese actor Tang Guoqiang, who acted Chairman Mao Zedong in many films including the latest hit "The Founding of A Republic," said at a viewing stand that he had the same age with New China and he wanted to watch the mass parade as "the masses' support is essential to the leadership."

-- "It is obligatory for me to do what my country asks me to do. As a Chinese, I feel very proud and excited," said Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan at the celebration.

-- Ma Ni, a physique shaping coach for volunteers at the Beijing Olympics, said she gave full mark to the paraded soldiers as they were "handsome and brave" and completely suit the standard of "nice figures."

-- "It is a birthday of New China and a great festival of overseas Chinese. China's military parade is the largest ever I've seen compared to those of other countries," said Ling Ta Fou, director of Hungary's general federation of overseas Chinese, at the celebration.