Communist Party leaders turn out in full force as Xi Jinping urges unity

President Xi Jinping called for solidarity in party ranks yesterday as he delivered a speech at a National Day gathering attended by almost all retired and current leaders.

The rare public appearance together of the present and former leaders comes amid intense internal debate over the current anti-corruption drive before a crucial party meeting.

Among those present were former presidents Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao, former premiers Li Peng, Wen Jiabao and Zhu Rongji, and almost all surviving former members of the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee, according to CCTV footage broadcast last night.

Xi was flanked by Jiang and Hu at the head table for the gathering. Current members of the standing committee were seated near him.

On Monday, Xi, Jiang and some of the former party leaders also attended a concert.

And earlier yesterday at a Politburo meeting, it was announced that the party's fourth plenum would be held from October 20 to 23.