BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on the country's youth to uphold patriotism at a gathering to mark the centenary of the May Fourth Movement.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said as long as the banner of patriotism is being held high, the Chinese people can unleash great powers in the endeavors to transform China and the world.

Xi said the May Fourth Movement gave birth to the great spirit centered on patriotism, progress, democracy and science, with patriotism at the core.