In his speech at the ceremony marking the centennial of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping presented an overarching review of the history of the CPC and charted the course for its journey ahead.
The speech sent some key messages to the world.
Key Message 1: The CPC has completed its first historic mission after a century of struggle.
After the Opium War in 1840, China was gradually reduced to a semi colonial and semi feudal society. To save China from peril, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, the Reform Movement of 1898, the Yihetuan Movement and the Revolution of 1911 rose one after the other, and a variety of plans were devised to ensure national survival. All ended in failure. China urgently needed new philosophies to lead the national salvation movement and a new organization to unite revolutionary forces. The Communist Party of China was established under this historical background. The CPC has made great achievements during its century-long struggle, as evidenced by the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and the eradication of urban absolute poverty. That said, this is only the first centenary goal, and China is now making strides toward the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects
Key Message 2: The Chinese people have chosen the CPC and China is pursuing the right path.
Since its founding, the CPC has put a premium on adapting Marxism-Leninism to China’s national conditions, and has made seeking happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation its aspiration and mission. Over the past 100 years, the CPC has been leading the Chinese people to prevail in all struggles, sacrifices and creations, which can be summed up in one theme: the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The success of the Chinese revolution has reshaped the future and destiny of the Chinese people and nation, as well as the trend and shape of the development of the world.
Key Message 3: Under the leadership of the CPC, the direction of the Chinese people has two important features.
First, the socialism with Chinese characteristics advocated by President Xi Jinping is not an abstract concept. Rather, it is about promoting coordinated development of material, political, spiritual, social and ecological civilizations. It is about creating a new path of modernization that suits China and a new form of human civilization.
Second, the promotion of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of the CPC has a general template that includes high-quality development, building up Chinese strengths in science and technology, ensuring that the Chinese people run the country, continue to govern based on the rule of law and upholding core socialist values. China will enhance public well-being in the course of development, and promote harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
All these features capture the essence of China’s development model. As for the argument that this model is increasingly gaining traction internationally, that is a natural course of development.
Key Message 4: China will get along with the rest of the world.
China will adhere to a path of peaceful development and therefore will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation for win win outcomes. The CPC has solemnly pledged that China 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, focus on mutual benefits instead of zero-sum games, and oppose hegemony and power politics. China has honored its promise: We walk the walk to deliver our commitment to uphold world peace, contribute to global development and safeguard the international order.
President Xi noted that we have never bullied, oppressed, or subjugated the people of any other country, and we never will. By the same token, we will never allow any foreign force to bully, oppress or subjugate us. Those who would attempt to do so will find themselves on a collision course with a great wall of steel forged by more than 1.4 billion Chinese people.
Key Message 5: Between now and the second centennial celebration, national unification will become a reality.
First, in order to build a great socialist country, the CPC must rally, 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.
Second, the Taiwan question must be resolved. Realizing China’s complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the CPC. It is also a shared aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. China will uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, as well as advance peaceful national reunification. All Chinese, including compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, must come together and move forward in unison. China will take resolute action to utterly defeat any attempt at Taiwan independence and work to create a bright future for national rejuvenation. Xi sent a stern warning that no one should underestimate the resolve, the will or the ability of the Chinese people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
