The sitting statue of Sun Yat-sen in this mausoleum in Nanjing. [File photo]

The Chinese mainland would assist Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) if they are to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's funeral at his mausoleum in Nanjing, said the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Li Weiyi, spokesman for the office, said Wednesday, "Dr. Sun Yat-sen is a great vanguard of the democratic revolution and a great patriot."

Dr. Sun Yat-sen founded the Kuomintang in 1919. He died in 1925 at the age of 59. He was dubbed "father" of the nation and held the first presidency of the Republic of China earlier last century.

On June 1, 1929, his coffin was transferred to a mausoleum in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, which was built for him and named after him.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2009)