Premier Li Keqiang signed a State Council decree revising a set of articles on the Regulations on Honoring Martyrs.

According to the decree, martyrs refer to citizens who have sacrificed themselves to safeguard the nation and the cause of socialist construction.

The original Article 38 was amended as: "The information of identified martyrs shall be sent to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs for record by the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission."

The list of martyrs under the Regulations should be sent to the Honorary Commendation Committee of the Party and State by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, according to the newly added article.

The decree also added a new article stating a Martyrs' Certificate will be issued in the name of the Honorary Commendation Committee of the Party and State.

As two new articles are added, the original Article 10 was amended as Article 13, which stipulates that governments at or above the county level will hold an awards ceremony on Martyrs' Day each year and issue certificates to the families of the martyrs.

Pensions for martyrs should be paid by the department of veteran affairs of the county-level people's government once families of the martyrs have received the martyrs' certificate.

The amendments will take effect from the date of promulgation.