Nurses Liu Guangyao (R) and Qiao Bing take care of a patient at an ICU ward of the Third People's Hospital of Henan in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, April 26, 2020. Liu Guangyao and Qiao Bing are both the hospital's ICU nurses, who are a pair of lovers born in 1990s. (Xinhua/Li An)

President Xi Jinping praised young Chinese for "showing a high sense of responsibility" in the face of hardships and dangers when sending greetings to young people across the country ahead of China's Youth Day, which falls on May 4.

BEIJING, May 3 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged young Chinese to hold firm convictions, stick to the people's stance and develop genuine skills to devote themselves to the cause of building a great country.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the statement on Sunday when sending greetings to young people across the country ahead of China's Youth Day, which falls on May 4.

Facing the sudden outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, young Chinese of all ethnic groups have actively responded to the Party's call and participated in the all-out people's war against the epidemic, said Xi.

Undaunted by hardships and dangers, they have charged ahead and dedicated themselves to serving the country, showing a high sense of responsibility and winning high praise from the Party and the people, Xi noted.

"I'm very proud of you," said Xi.