By He Yin, People’s Daily
On Oct. 22, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivered an important speech at a gathering commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army’s Long March.
Xi offered profound insights into the keys to the CPC’s and the people’s army’s success in pressing forward, as demonstrated by the victory of the Long March, and set out five requirements for carrying forward the great Long March spirit and succeeding in the new Long March.
He noted that the new journey is a long expedition filled with glory and dreams, and is a new Long March for the Party and the people. As China commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory, it will continue to advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization and, in doing so, make greater contributions to human progress.
Ninety years ago, the Long March was a remarkable revolutionary epic forged by the CPC and the Red Army, offering the world a new perspective on China. The Long March forged an unshakable faith. Driven by unwavering faith in their ideals and convictions, the Red Army soldiers broke through enemy encirclement and overcame tremendous hardships to blaze a trail forward.
Since then, the story of the Long March has drawn sustained international attention. From Edgar Snow’s Red Star Over China, which introduced the truth about the Long March to readers overseas, to German writer Christian Y. Schmidt, who cycled nearly 7,000 kilometers to retrace the route, generations of foreign visitors have followed in the Red Army’s footsteps, seeking to understand the power of faith forged through that arduous expedition and uncover the inner strength that has enabled China to overcome challenges and move steadily forward.
Not long ago, Celso Malavoloneke, a Central Committee member of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola, visited Long March sites in southwest China’s Guizhou province. He said his greatest takeaway was a deeper understanding of the Chinese people’s spirit, which he would take back to his own country. Rooted in truth and concern for the people, this faith has become a spiritual bond that resonates with people across national borders.
The power of the human spirit can transcend mountains and seas and resonate with people around the world. Forged through firm ideals, fearlessness in the face of sacrifice, a commitment to seeking truth from facts, unity, and reliance on the people, the great spirit of the Long March is an integral part of the spiritual heritage of CPC members. It transcends time and space and continues to flourish.
British scholar Martin Jacques has observed that the Long March revealed the remarkable capacity of Chinese society to mobilize around a common vision.
Over the past 90 years since the Long March victory, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people in carrying forward the cause of revolution, construction and reform, and in pursuing the great endeavors of the new era, overcoming challenges at every stage. Drawing on the valuable experience of upholding independence and self-reliance and relying on the people, the CPC has continued to break new ground in advancing its cause.
William N. Brown, an American professor at Xiamen University who has lived in China for nearly 40 years, said the Long March spirit is a shared spiritual treasure of humanity, and that it belongs to everyone in the world who strives unremittingly amid uncertainty.
The road to achieving ideals has never been smooth. The CPC has always stood on the right side of history and on the side of human progress. Holding high the banner of building a community with a shared future for humanity, it puts the people’s interests first and works for the common good, continually contributing positive momentum to global stability and development.
The Chinese military has participated in 26 United Nations peacekeeping operations, and dispatched over 50,000 peacekeepers. For years, China has contributed around 30 percent of global economic growth. It has signed 26 free trade agreements with 33 countries and regions, steadily expanding its global free trade network.
China has proposed and taken the lead in implementing the four major global initiatives, making important contributions to addressing the deficits in peace, development, security and governance.
The Long March’s most valuable lesson for the world today is the importance of staying the course, maintaining a focus on long-term goals and persevering through adversity amid turbulence and change, said José Luis Centella, president of the Communist Party of Spain.
The history of the Long March is never far behind us, and its journey continues. Amid profound changes in the world, the times and history, China will continue to carry forward the great spirit of the Long March and forge ahead on the new Long March in the new era. Through its own steady development, China will bring confidence to a turbulent world, work with other countries to tackle common challenges and share development opportunities, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Forge ahead on new Long March: Contributing more to human progress
