BEIJING -- Chinese young people always play a vanguard role in realizing national rejuvenation, President Xi Jinping said Tuesday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the statement at a gathering to mark the centenary of the May Fourth Movement.

In the new era, the theme and direction of Chinese youth movement and the mission of Chinese young people are to uphold the leadership of the CPC, and work along with the people to realize the two centenary goals and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, Xi said.