The convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in 1978 marked China’s entrance into a new period of reform and opening-up, and a drive for socialist modernization. With all of the army’s work being corrected and the modernization drive being promoted, the National Day military parade recommenced after a 24-year interruption.

On March 10, 1981, Deng Xiaopeng, the then-Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission suggested restarting the National Day military parade. On March 18, the Headquarters of the General Staff, in accordance with instructions from the Central Military Commission, issued an order to recommence the military parade. In September, the army held a large-scale military exercise in northern China. Following the exercise, a grand military parade was held. Deng Xiaoping, who had been appointed as Chairman of the Central Military Commission, reviewed the army and called on them to build up a powerful, modernized and regularized revolutionary army.

In December, the CPC Central Committee decided to hold a military parade on the 35th National Day in 1984. In the middle of November, 1983, the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee convened a special meeting to discuss and plan the celebrations and preparations for the military parade on the 35th National Day.

On December 12, the capital leading group for the military parade on the 35th National Day was set up, with Yang Dezhi, Chief of General Staff of the PLA, as the head. Deng Xiaoping paid particular attention to this military parade. He listened to reports relating to the preparations for this military parade on numerous occasions and personally approved the goal of realizing a “world-class” military parade proposed by Beijing Military Area Command. The previous slogans of leaders reviewing the army were “Long Live the Communist Party of China" and “Long live the People's Republic of China.”

According to Deng Xiaoping’s instructions, the parade slogans were changed to “Salute comrades” and “Thanks for your hard work.” Soldier and officer responded “Hail to the Chief” and “Serve the people.” The changes of parade slogans reflected the change in the concept of running the army. Under the unified leadership of the Central Military Commission, all the preparation work for the National Day military parade proceeded smoothly.

(China.org.cn, CCTV August 13, 2009)