Grand gathering held in Beijing to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March

Xi Jinping called for accelerating the building of a world-class military, achieving the armed forces' centenary goals on schedule, and advancing the modernization of national defense and the armed forces.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the new journey is an expedition filled with glory and dreams, a new Long March for the Party and the people. To carry forward the great spirit of the Long March and follow the new Long March well, we must uphold the Party's ideals, convictions and purpose, fully implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, remain true to our original aspiration and mission, and rely closely on the people to create new historic achievements. We must unswervingly promote high-quality development and continually meet the people's growing needs for a better life, advance the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan in a coordinated manner, coordinate the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, promote effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth in the economy, and advance common prosperity for all. We must have the courage to wage a great struggle with many new historical features, better coordinate development and security, and overcome difficulties, confront risks and meet challenges with historical initiative, ensuring that the great ship of China's rejuvenation cuts through the waves and sails steadily toward its distant destination. We must accelerate the building of the people's military into a world-class force, always uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the people's military, achieve the military's centenary goal on schedule, and advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces to a high standard. We must uphold the Party's leadership and strengthen Party building, persevere in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, continually achieve the Party's self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal and self-enhancement, and ensure that the Party always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The gathering concluded to the strains of "The Internationale."

The gathering concluded to the stirring strains of “The Internationale.”

Relevant central leaders based in Beijing and approximately 3,000 representatives from various departments, political parties, the military and all sectors of the capital attended the gathering.

About 3,000 people attended, including principal officials from central Party, government, military and people's organization departments and Beijing; leaders of the central committees of the other political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and representatives of people without party affiliation; representatives of veteran comrades; representatives of officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force; and representatives from all sectors of society in the capital.

Xi Jinping called for having the courage to engage in a great struggle and better coordinating development and security.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the new journey is an expedition filled with glory and dreams, a new Long March for the Party and the people. To carry forward the great spirit of the Long March and follow the new Long March well, we must uphold the Party's ideals, convictions and purpose, fully implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, remain true to our original aspiration and mission, and rely closely on the people to create new historic achievements. We must unswervingly promote high-quality development and continually meet the people's growing needs for a better life, advance the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan in a coordinated manner, coordinate the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, promote effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth in the economy, and advance common prosperity for all. We must have the courage to wage a great struggle with many new historical features, better coordinate development and security, and overcome difficulties, confront risks and meet challenges with historical initiative, ensuring that the great ship of China's rejuvenation cuts through the waves and sails steadily toward its distant destination. We must accelerate the building of the people's military into a world-class force, always uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the people's military, achieve the military's centenary goal on schedule, and advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces to a high standard. We must uphold the Party's leadership and strengthen Party building, persevere in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, continually achieve the Party's self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal and self-enhancement, and ensure that the Party always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

A gathering commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the morning of October 22. Xi Jinping delivered an important speech.

CCTV.com (Xinwen Lianbo): A grand gathering commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March was held on the morning of October 22 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech. He stressed that only by remembering history can we create the future. The entire Party, the entire military and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee, vigorously carry forward the great spirit of the Long March, continue the struggle and forge ahead with resolve, keep advancing the great cause pioneered by the revolutionary forebears, and strive to create new glories on the new Long March.

Xi Jinping recalled the Party's leadership of the Red Army's Long March from October 1934 to October 1936, saying it defeated attempts to encircle, pursue, block and intercept the army and accomplished a strategic relocation northward to resist Japanese aggression.

Xi Jinping pointed out that, from October 1934 to October 1936, our Party led the Red Army's First, Second and Fourth Front Armies and its 25th Army on the great Long March, which shook the world and left an illustrious mark on history. The Red Army's Long March traversed more than 10 provinces and covered 25,000 li, thwarting pursuit, encirclement, interception and blockade by more than a million enemy troops. It proclaimed the complete failure of the Kuomintang reactionaries' plot to eliminate the Communist Party of China and the Red Army, victoriously accomplished the strategic relocation northward to resist Japanese aggression, and successfully opened a new chapter in the Chinese revolution. This earth-shaking revolutionary feat was of great significance in the history of our Party, country and military, and profoundly influenced the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This heroic epic of extraordinary grandeur is forever inscribed on the monument to the Chinese revolution and forever remembered in the hearts of hundreds of millions of people.

On behalf of the Party Central Committee and others, Xi Jinping paid tribute to veteran revolutionaries, Red Army commanders and soldiers, the people who supported the Long March, and surviving Red Army veterans. He also proposed a moment of silence for revolutionary martyrs.

Amid warm applause, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech. On behalf of the Party Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, and on behalf of the entire Party, the entire military and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country, he paid the highest tribute to the older generation of revolutionaries, including Comrades Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, who led the Red Army in accomplishing the historic feat of the Long March; to the Red Army commanders and soldiers who fought bloody battles during the Long March and sustained revolutionary struggles in various places; to the people of all ethnic groups who supported the Red Army's Long March at the time, particularly those in the revolutionary base areas; and to all surviving Red Army veterans. He proposed that everyone stand for a moment of silence for the revolutionary martyrs who sacrificed their lives heroically during the Long March and in revolutionary struggles in various places.

Xi Jinping elaborated on the meaning of the great Long March spirit and its inspirational role.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the Red Army's Long March created extraordinary human miracles and forged the great spirit of the Long March. Where there is spirit, there is strength. The great spirit of the Long March fully demonstrates the power of loyalty, truth, justice and unity. As an important component of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists, it transcends time and space and remains ever fresh, forever serving as a precious asset and powerful impetus inspiring us to overcome difficulties and advance courageously.

Zhao Leji presided over the gathering and called for carefully studying, understanding and implementing Xi Jinping's speech and carrying forward the Long March spirit.

While presiding over the gathering, Zhao Leji pointed out that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech reviewed the great course of the Long March undertaken by the Red Army under the Party's leadership, summarized the great significance of its victory, revealed the keys to the Party and the people's military advancing resolutely that were embodied in that victory, explained the historical value of the great spirit of the Long March, and set out the clear requirements of the “five musts” for carrying forward that spirit and following the new Long March well. The speech has strong political significance, ideological depth and guiding value, and must be studied and understood conscientiously and thoroughly implemented. The entire Party, the entire military and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, uphold Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as their guide, profoundly understand the decisive significance of the “Two Establishments,” strengthen the “Four Consciousnesses,” bolster the “Four Confidences,” uphold the “Two Upholds,” carry forward the great spirit of the Long March, follow the new Long March well, and strive tirelessly to comprehensively advance the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the gathering.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, as well as Vice President Han Zheng, attended the gathering.

Xi Jinping explained that the victory of the Long March depended on the Party's correct leadership, firm revolutionary resolve, independence and self-reliance, seeking truth from facts, and support from the people.

Xi Jinping stressed that revisiting history is a way to draw wisdom and strength for forging ahead. Today, 90 years later, looking back once again on that period of suffering and glory, we recognize more profoundly that victory in the Long March was inevitable and that it embodied the keys to the Party and the people's military advancing resolutely toward victory. This path to great victory was forged through the Party's correct leadership; the Party's correct leadership and the establishment of Comrade Mao Zedong's core position were decisive for the victory of the Red Army's Long March. This path to great victory was forged through a firm revolutionary will; revolutionary ideals and convictions can unleash boundless strength capable of defeating formidable enemies and shaking mountains, and a force with lofty ideals and firm convictions is invincible. This path to great victory was forged through independence and seeking truth from facts; only by closely integrating the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific realities can we solve China's problems and demonstrate their powerful vitality. This path to great victory was forged through the support of the broad masses of the people; the people are forever the source of strength and the staunch backing of the Party and the people's military. As long as we remain deeply rooted in the people and always maintain our close bonds with them, the Party's cause will prevail in every endeavor.

Xi Jinping called for promoting high-quality development, coordinating the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, and advancing common prosperity.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the new journey is an expedition filled with glory and dreams, a new Long March for the Party and the people. To carry forward the great spirit of the Long March and follow the new Long March well, we must uphold the Party's ideals, convictions and purpose, fully implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, remain true to our original aspiration and mission, and rely closely on the people to create new historic achievements. We must unswervingly promote high-quality development and continually meet the people's growing needs for a better life, advance the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan in a coordinated manner, coordinate the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, promote effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth in the economy, and advance common prosperity for all. We must have the courage to wage a great struggle with many new historical features, better coordinate development and security, and overcome difficulties, confront risks and meet challenges with historical initiative, ensuring that the great ship of China's rejuvenation cuts through the waves and sails steadily toward its distant destination. We must accelerate the building of the people's military into a world-class force, always uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the people's military, achieve the military's centenary goal on schedule, and advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces to a high standard. We must uphold the Party's leadership and strengthen Party building, persevere in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, continually achieve the Party's self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal and self-enhancement, and ensure that the Party always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi Jinping called for upholding the Party's ideals, convictions and purpose, implementing the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and relying on the people to achieve great historic accomplishments.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the new journey is an expedition filled with glory and dreams, a new Long March for the Party and the people. To carry forward the great spirit of the Long March and follow the new Long March well, we must uphold the Party's ideals, convictions and purpose, fully implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, remain true to our original aspiration and mission, and rely closely on the people to create new historic achievements. We must unswervingly promote high-quality development and continually meet the people's growing needs for a better life, advance the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan in a coordinated manner, coordinate the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, promote effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth in the economy, and advance common prosperity for all. We must have the courage to wage a great struggle with many new historical features, better coordinate development and security, and overcome difficulties, confront risks and meet challenges with historical initiative, ensuring that the great ship of China's rejuvenation cuts through the waves and sails steadily toward its distant destination. We must accelerate the building of the people's military into a world-class force, always uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the people's military, achieve the military's centenary goal on schedule, and advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces to a high standard. We must uphold the Party's leadership and strengthen Party building, persevere in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, continually achieve the Party's self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal and self-enhancement, and ensure that the Party always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

At 10 a.m., Zhao Leji announced the opening of the gathering, and everyone stood and sang the national anthem.

At 10 a.m., Zhao Leji declared the commemorative gathering open. Everyone rose and sang the national anthem.

Xi Jinping called for upholding the Party's leadership, strengthening Party building, and continuously advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the new journey is an expedition filled with glory and dreams, a new Long March for the Party and the people. To carry forward the great spirit of the Long March and follow the new Long March well, we must uphold the Party's ideals, convictions and purpose, fully implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, remain true to our original aspiration and mission, and rely closely on the people to create new historic achievements. We must unswervingly promote high-quality development and continually meet the people's growing needs for a better life, advance the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan in a coordinated manner, coordinate the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, promote effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth in the economy, and advance common prosperity for all. We must have the courage to wage a great struggle with many new historical features, better coordinate development and security, and overcome difficulties, confront risks and meet challenges with historical initiative, ensuring that the great ship of China's rejuvenation cuts through the waves and sails steadily toward its distant destination. We must accelerate the building of the people's military into a world-class force, always uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the people's military, achieve the military's centenary goal on schedule, and advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces to a high standard. We must uphold the Party's leadership and strengthen Party building, persevere in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, continually achieve the Party's self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal and self-enhancement, and ensure that the Party always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi Jinping said that the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects had been achieved on schedule and that efforts were now focused on the second centenary goal.

Xi Jinping stressed that the history of the Long March has never faded into the distance, and its path continues to extend. In the 90 years since the Long March's victory, the Party has united and led the people through one great Long March after another during the historical periods of revolution, construction and reform, winning one great victory after another. Since the Party's 18th National Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. Through the joint efforts of the entire Party, the entire military and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country, the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects has been achieved on schedule. The cause of the Party and the country has made historic achievements and undergone historic changes. On the new journey, we are working to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and realize the second centenary goal, comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization.