The year 2023 marks the 130th birth anniversary of Mao Zedong (1893–1976). Through several precious cultural relics and historical pictures housed in the National Museum of China, we can review the significant moments of leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC), including Mao Zedong, before and after the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 1949.

First meeting of Central People's Government Committee

On the morning of October 1, 1949, crowds of citizens began to gather at the Tian'anmen Square. Brimming with joyful smiles on their faces, they kept waving colorful flags and slogans.

Mao Zedong, accustomed to working at night, usually slept till 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. On October 1, as agreed a day earlier, he was awakened by his security guard at 1:00 p.m. and put on new clothes and shoes.

At 2:00 p.m. on Oct. 1, 1949, the first meeting of the Central People's Government Committee is held at the Qinzheng Hall in Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of China's Central Government in Beijing.

At 2:00 p.m., Mao Zedong presided over the first meeting of the Central People's Government Committee, which unanimously adopted the Common Program of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as the administrative guideline of the new government. Fifty-six members of the Central People's Government Committee, including Chairman Mao and Vice Chairmen Zhu De (1886–1976), Liu Shaoqi (1898–1969), Soong Ching Ling (1893–1981), Li Jishen (1885–1959), Zhang Lan (1872–1955), and Gao Gang (1905–1954), were sworn in. Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) was appointed as premier of the State Council and minister of Foreign Affairs, Mao Zedong as chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission, and Zhu De as the commander-in-chief of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The meeting also elected the secretary-general of the Central People's Government and approved the appointment of heads of main government departments.

At the meeting, Mao Zedong read the Announcement of the Central People's Government, which had been meticulously drafted by a group led by Lin Boqu (1886–1960) and was later printed following deliberation of all relevant parties. The announcement pointed out, "With the People's War of Liberation having basically achieved victory, and the majority of the Chinese people liberated, the first plenary meeting of the CPPCC delegates from various democratic parties, people's organizations, the PLA, regions, ethnics groups, overseas Chinese individuals, and other patriotic and democratic personages across the country has been convened. Representing the will of the people of the whole country, the meeting formulated the Organic Law of the Central People's Government of the PRC, and elected Mao Zedong as the chairman of the Central People's Government, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi, Soong Ching Ling, Li Jishen, Zhang Lan, and Gao Gang as the vice chairmen, and 56 members of the Central People's Government Committee. It declares the founding of the PRC and Beijing as the capital of the country."