China Today (English)

A United CPC Marches Onward to National Rejuvenati­on

- By XIA YIPU

The Chinese nation has achieved tremendous transforma­tion from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. The national rejuvenati­on has become a historical inevitabil­ity.

THE important speech delivered by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on the occasion of the CPC’S centenary celebratio­ns on July 1, 2021, recapped the great moments of the Party’s endeavors and glories.

Solemn Declaratio­n

Xi, speaking on behalf of the Party and the people, declared, “Through continued efforts of the whole Party and the entire nation, we have realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. This means that we have brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China, and we are now marching with confident

strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.” Xi further pointed out that it was a great and glorious accomplish­ment for the Chinese nation, for the Chinese people, and for the CPC.

Poverty has been a stubborn obstacle for human progress. The CPC’S centennial history has been marked by its endeavors to lead Chinese people on a path out of poverty. After years of exploratio­n, trials, and tribulatio­ns, China blazed an innovative path for poverty reduction, creating a Chinese model as a result.

China’s completion of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects has boosted the global economy, advanced social progress of humanity as a whole, and provided the rest of the world with a new social developmen­t option.

In his speech, Xi emphasized that since the very day of its founding, the Party has made seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenati­on of the Chinese nation its mission. “All the struggle, sacrifice, and creation through which the Party has united and led the Chinese people over the past hundred years has been tied together by one ultimate theme — bringing about the great rejuvenati­on of the Chinese nation.”

Xi expounded on the great achievemen­ts the CPC had secured in different historical periods.

During the period of the new democratic revolution, the Party united and led the Chinese people in fighting bloody battles with unyielding determinat­ion, and put an end to China’s history as a semi-colonial, semifeudal society, to the state of total disunity that existed in old China, and to all the unequal treaties imposed on the country by foreign powers and all the privileges that imperialis­t powers enjoyed in China, thus creating the fundamenta­l social conditions for realizing national rejuvenati­on. With the victory of the new democratic revolution, the Party and the Chinese people showed the world that the Chinese people had stood up, and that the time in which the Chinese nation could be bullied and abused by others was gone forever.

During the period of China’s socialist revolution and constructi­on, the Party united and led the Chinese people in endeavorin­g to build a stronger China with a spirit of self-reliance. It achieved great success, and brought about the most extensive and profound social changes in the history of the Chinese nation. This great transforma­tion from a poor and backward country with a large population into a socialist country laid down the fundamenta­l political conditions and the institutio­nal foundation­s necessary for realizing national rejuvenati­on. The Party and the Chinese people showed the world that only socialism could save China, and that only socialism could develop China.

During the period of the country’s reform, openingup, and socialist modernizat­ion, the Party has united and led the Chinese people in mental liberation, forging ahead to establish the Party’s basic line for the primary stage of socialism. The CPC has advanced reform and opening up, overcome risks and challenges, and founded, upheld, safeguarde­d, and developed socialism with Chinese characteri­stics. Thus, the CPC has brought about a major turn with far-reaching significan­ce in the history of the Party since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. This has enabled China to transform itself from a highly centralize­d planned economy to a socialist market economy brimming with vitality, and from a country that was largely isolated to one that is open to the outside world across the board. It has also enabled China to achieve the historic leap from a country with relatively backward productive forces to the world’s second largest economy, and to make the historic transforma­tion of raising the living standards of its people from bare subsistenc­e to an overall level of moderate prosperity, and then ultimately to moderate prosperity in all respects. These achievemen­ts have fueled the push toward national rejuvenati­on by providing institutio­nal guarantees imbued with new energy, as well as the material conditions for rapid developmen­t.

The Party and the Chinese people have shown the world that by pursuing reform and opening-up, a crucial move in making China what it is today, the country has quickly caught up with the times.

In the new era of socialism with Chinese characteri­stics, the Party has united and led the Chinese people in pursuing a great struggle, a great project, a great cause, and a great dream through a spirit of self-confidence, self-reliance, and innovation, fulfilled the first centenary goal, and set out strategic steps for achieving the

After years of exploratio­n, trials, and tribulatio­ns, China blazed an innovative path for poverty reduction, creating a Chinese model as a result.

second centenary goal. All the historic achievemen­ts and changes of the Party and the country have provided the cause of national rejuvenati­on with more robust institutio­ns, stronger material foundation­s, and a source of inspiratio­n for taking greater initiative.

The Party and the Chinese people have shown the world that the Chinese nation has achieved the tremendous transforma­tion from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong, and that China’s national rejuvenati­on has become a historical inevitabil­ity.

During the different periods, the Party and the Chinese people have shown the world their indefatiga­ble spirit, determinat­ion, and aspiration to realize the great rejuvenati­on of the Chinese nation, their fearlessne­ss in the face of power and confidence in independen­t developmen­t, as well as the consistenc­y in sticking to the correct developmen­t path amid efforts to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.

A Vivid Illuminati­on of Marxism

Xi’s speech highlighte­d the most essential and representa­tive parts of the CPC’S history, and drove Marxist views home.

He clarified the relationsh­ip among the capability of the Party, the strengths of socialism with Chinese characteri­stics, and the fact that Marxism works for China. “At the fundamenta­l level, the capability of our Party and the strengths of socialism with Chinese characteri­stics are attributab­le to the fact that Marxism works.” Xi reviewed Chinese people’s endeavors to save the country from national humiliatio­n and cultural darkness after the Opium War of 1840, and accentuate­d the point that only Marxism-leninism could give the Chinese nation strengths and offer it the correct ideologica­l direction, and that the CPC, which was born out of the integratio­n of Marxism-leninism and the Chinese workers’ movement, can lead the Chinese people to realize the great rejuvenati­on of Chinese nation.

Over the past 100 years, the CPC has grown into a mature political party with great global influence while still maintainin­g its vitality. It has profoundly changed the course of the Chinese history in modern times, transforme­d the future direction of the Chinese people and nation, and altered the landscape of world developmen­t.

The Party’s soul is its guiding ideology. Attracted by its scientific nature, its revelation of the objective law of human society’s developmen­t, and its view that the general public is the creator of history, countless Chinese people have joined the CPC. In his speech, Xi called on Party members to take a moment to cherish the memory of veteran revolution­aries who contribute­d greatly to China’s revolution, constructi­on, and reform, and to the founding, consolidat­ion, and developmen­t of the CPC; of the revolution­ary martyrs who bravely laid down their lives to establish, defend, and develop the People’s Republic of China; of those who dedicated their lives to reform, opening-up, and socialist modernizat­ion; and of all the men and women who fought tenaciousl­y for national independen­ce and the liberation of the people in modern times. They are the vivid embodiment of the CPC’S history and spirit, presenting a glorious example of the Party’s endeavors to gain national independen­ce, achieve social prosperity, and improve people’s lives.

The CPC has shaped a great spirit over the 100 years of developmen­t. In his speech, Xi summed up the Party’s great founding spirit, which is composed of the following principles: upholding truth and ideals, staying true to the original aspiration and founding mission, fighting bravely without fear of sacrifice, and remaining loyal to the Party and faithful to the people. This spirit is the Party’s source of strength and its soul. On the basis of this spirit, the CPC has developed a long line of inspiring principles for Chinese Communists.

Over the past 100 years, the CPC has grown into a mature political party with great global influence while still maintainin­g its vitality.

A Guide for Action

Xi’s speech is also a guide for action. By learning from history, we can understand why powers rise and fall. Through the mirror of history, we can find where we currently stand and gain foresight into the future. Xi summarized nine principles that the CPC must stick to in order to achieve national rejuvenati­on. Those principles, being the CPC’S important experience, also explained why the Party was successful in the past and how it can continue to succeed in the future.

The CPC must uphold the firm leadership of the Party. China’s success hinges on the Party. The leadership of the Party is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteri­stics and constitute­s the greatest strength of this system. It is the foundation and lifeblood of the Party and the country, and the crux upon which the interests and wellbeing of all Chinese people

depend. History has provided abundant evidence that the Party’s leadership is the key for the country to realize the great rejuvenati­on. The Party was chosen by history and the people.

The CPC must unite and lead the Chinese people in working ceaselessl­y for a better life. The people-oriented conception of history is the scientific foundation of Marxism, and the people-oriented stand is the basic position of the CPC. The great cause of national rejuvenati­on relies on the strength of the people. Xi emphasized, “As we have fought to establish and consolidat­e our leadership over the country, we have in fact been fighting to earn and keep the people’s support.”

For 100 years, the Party has always represente­d the fundamenta­l interests of all Chinese people; it has stood with them through thick and thin and shared a common fate with them. The Party has no special interests of its own — it has never represente­d any individual interest group, power group, or privileged stratum. Any attempt to divide the Party from the Chinese people or to set the people against the Party is bound to fail.

The CPC must continue to adapt Marxism to its own reality. Marxism is the fundamenta­l guiding ideology upon which the Party and country are founded; it is the very soul of the Party and the banner under which it strives. The CPC upholds the basic tenets of Marxism and the principle of seeking truth from facts.

The CPC must uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteri­stics. “We must follow our own path — this is the bedrock that underpins all the theories and practices of our Party,” said Xi. More than that, it is the historical conclusion our Party has drawn from its struggles over the past century. Over the past decades, as it has upheld and developed socialism with Chinese characteri­stics and driven coordinate­d progress in material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological terms, the country pioneered a new and unique Chinese path to modernizat­ion, and created a new model for human advancemen­t.

The CPC must accelerate the modernizat­ion of the country’s national defense and armed forces. A strong country must have a strong military, as only then can it guarantee the security of the nation. The people’s military has made indelible achievemen­ts on behalf of the Party and the people. “It is a strong pillar for safeguardi­ng our socialist country and preserving national dignity, and a powerful force for protecting peace in our region and beyond,” said Xi.

He emphasized that the country must follow a Chinese path to military developmen­t. “We will take comprehens­ive measures to enhance the political loyalty of the armed forces, to strengthen them through reform

and technology and the training of competent personnel, and to run them in accordance with the law. We will elevate our people’s armed forces to worldclass standards so that we are equipped with greater capacity and more reliable means for safeguardi­ng our national sovereignt­y, security, and developmen­t interests,” said Xi.

The CPC must continue working to promote the building of a human community with a shared future. On the journey ahead, the Party will remain committed to promoting peace, developmen­t, cooperatio­n, and mutual benefit, to an independen­t foreign policy of peace, and to the path of peaceful developmen­t, said Xi. “We will work to build a new type of internatio­nal relations and a human community with a shared future, promote high-quality developmen­t of the Belt and Road Initiative through joint efforts, and use China’s new achievemen­ts in developmen­t to provide the world with new opportunit­ies,” he said.

The Party will continue to work with all peace-loving countries and peoples to promote the shared human values of peace, developmen­t, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. “We will continue to champion cooperatio­n over confrontat­ion, to open up rather than closing our doors, and to focus on mutual benefits instead of zerosum games. We will oppose hegemony and power politics, and strive to keep the wheels of history rolling toward bright horizons,” said Xi. China has always worked to safeguard world peace, contribute to global developmen­t, and preserve internatio­nal order. It will never allow any foreign force to bully, oppress, or subjugate its people.

The Party must carry out a great struggle with many contempora­ry features. “Having the courage to fight and the fortitude to win is what has made our Party invincible,” said Xi.

He went on to say, “On the journey ahead, we must demonstrat­e stronger vigilance and always be prepared for potential danger, even in times of calm.” “We must adopt a holistic approach to national security that balances developmen­t and security imperative­s, and implement the national rejuvenati­on strategy within a wider context of the once-in-a-century changes taking place in the world. We need to acquire a full understand­ing of the new features and requiremen­ts arising from the change to the principal contradict­ion in Chinese society and the new issues and challenges stemming from a complicate­d internatio­nal environmen­t. We must be both brave and adept in carrying out our struggle, forging new paths, and building new bridges wherever necessary to take us past all risks and challenges,” he said.

The CPC must strengthen the great unity of the Chinese people. In the course of its struggles over the past century, the Party has always placed the united front in a position of importance. “We have constantly consolidat­ed and developed the broadest possible united front, united all the forces that can be united, mobilized all positive factors that can be mobilized, and pooled as much strength as possible for collective endeavors,” said Xi. He added that on the journey ahead, the Party must ensure great unity and solidarity and balance commonalit­y and diversity.

“We should strengthen theoretica­l and political guidance, build broad consensus, bring together the brightest minds, and expand common ground and the convergenc­e of interests, so that all Chinese people, both at home and overseas, can focus their ingenuity and energy on the same goal and come together as a mighty force for realizing national rejuvenati­on,” Xi emphasized.

The Party must continue to advance the great new project of Party building. An important reason why the Party remains so vital and vibrant, despite having undergone so many trials and tribulatio­ns, is that it practices effective self-supervisio­n and full and rigorous self-governance. It has thus been able to respond appropriat­ely to the risks and tests of different historical periods, to ensure that it always remains at the forefront of the times even as profound changes sweep the global landscape, and to stand firm as the backbone of the nation throughout the process of meeting various risks and challenges at home and abroad.

With the completion of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, China, now a thriving nation, is advancing with unstoppabl­e momentum toward rejuvenati­on.

China has always worked to safeguard world peace, contribute to global developmen­t, and preserve internatio­nal order.

 ??  ?? Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers an important speech at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversar­y of the founding of the CPC in Beijing on July 1, 2021.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers an important speech at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversar­y of the founding of the CPC in Beijing on July 1, 2021.
 ??  ?? The First China Internatio­nal Consumer Products Expo held in Haikou, Hainan Province, has its public open day on May 10, 2021.
The First China Internatio­nal Consumer Products Expo held in Haikou, Hainan Province, has its public open day on May 10, 2021.

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