Commemorative Meeting Held in Beijing to Mark the 160th Anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's Birth; Xi Jinping Delivers an Important Speech

Meeting Held in Beijing to Commemorate the 160th Anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's Birth

Xi Jinping Delivers an Important Speech

Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi Attend; Wang Huning Presides

CCTV News (Xinwen Lianbo): A meeting commemorating the 160th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth was solemnly held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the morning of the 12th. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, president of the People's Republic of China, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech, stressing that all Chinese people at home and abroad should unite more closely, carry forward Sun Yat-sen's legacy, work together to advance the great cause of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and continuously turn into reality the great dream that the Chinese people of all ethnic groups have diligently pursued since modern times.

Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting.

The main auditorium of the Great Hall of the People was solemn and lively. A banner reading 'Meeting Commemorating the 160th Anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's Birth' hung above the rostrum. A portrait of Sun Yat-sen was centered on the backdrop, with the dates '1866–2026' below it, and 10 red flags arranged on both sides.

The meeting began at 10 a.m. Everyone stood and sang the national anthem.

Amid warm applause, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech. He said that Sun Yat-sen was a great national hero, a great patriot and a great forerunner of China's democratic revolution. He devoted his life to transforming China, made outstanding contributions to the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and is sincerely admired by all Chinese people at home and abroad.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Chinese Communists were the most steadfast supporters, most faithful collaborators and most loyal successors of Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary cause. Over the past 100-plus years, under the leadership of our Party, the people have achieved great accomplishments in the New Democratic Revolution; the socialist revolution and construction; reform, opening up and socialist modernization; and socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. They have written the most magnificent epic in the several-thousand-year history of the Chinese nation. All this can surely bring solace to the spirit of Sun Yat-sen.

Xi Jinping stressed that over the past 100-plus years, Sun Yat-sen's call to 'revitalize China' has inspired generation after generation of Chinese people and has continually taken on new meaning and significance in the times. Today, the best way to commemorate Sun Yat-sen is to study, inherit and carry forward his valuable spirit, and continuously advance the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Sun Yat-sen devoted his life to loving and saving the country. To study, inherit and carry forward his valuable spirit, we must uphold patriotism and strive to achieve the country's prosperity and strength. On the new journey, we must uphold the unity of loving the country, the Party and socialism; uphold the Party's overall leadership and the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee; inspire all Chinese people at home and abroad to deepen their patriotic commitment and strengthen their resolve to build a strong country; and work together to make our great motherland even better.

Xi Jinping stressed that Sun Yat-sen cared deeply about the people throughout his life. To study, inherit and carry forward his valuable spirit, we must always put the people first and serve them wholeheartedly. On the new journey, we must remember that the country is the people and the people are the country; stand firmly with the people, understand their aspirations, respect their creativity and pool their wisdom; develop whole-process people's democracy; safeguard and improve people's livelihoods; and make solid progress in promoting all-round human development and common prosperity for all.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Sun Yat-sen pursued truth throughout his life. To study, inherit and carry forward his valuable spirit, we must uphold the 'two integrations' and continuously advance theoretical innovation grounded in practice. On the new journey, we must be bold in theoretical exploration and innovation, provide scientific answers to questions concerning China, the world, the people and the times, enrich and develop the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in step with the times, and continually write new chapters in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

Xi Jinping stressed that Sun Yat-sen was indomitable throughout his life. To study, inherit and carry forward his valuable spirit, we must have the courage to overcome difficulties and open up new horizons for development through tenacious struggle. On the new journey, we must take into consideration both domestic and international imperatives, balance development and security, carry forward the spirit of struggle and enhance our capacity for struggle. We must always be prepared to withstand major tests, including high winds and rough seas and even raging storms, fully overcome all kinds of risks and challenges on the road ahead, and continuously achieve new victories in the great struggles of the new era.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Sun Yat-sen advocated unity throughout his life. To study, inherit and carry forward his valuable spirit, we must uphold the united front and continuously consolidate and expand the great unity of all Chinese people. On the new journey, we must unite all forces that can be united and mobilize all positive factors that can be mobilized; promote harmonious relations among political parties, ethnic groups, religions, social strata and compatriots at home and abroad; consolidate and develop the broadest possible patriotic united front; and build powerful momentum for advancing Chinese modernization.

Xi Jinping stressed that Sun Yat-sen had a global outlook throughout his life. To study, inherit and carry forward his valuable spirit, we must vigorously promote the common values of humanity and actively advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. On the new journey, we must always view the future of humanity from a global perspective, correctly understand and handle relations with the outside world in light of the broad trends in human development, the overall changes in the world and the long history of China's development, and actively promote the implementation of the four global initiatives, making China's contribution to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Sun Yat-sen consistently and firmly safeguarded national unity and ethnic solidarity, and resolutely opposed all statements and actions that divided the country or the nation. His strong desire and firm resolve for national reunification have continually inspired, educated and encouraged all Chinese people. Resolving the Taiwan question and achieving the complete reunification of the motherland are an unwavering historic mission of the CPC, the common aspiration of all Chinese people and an inevitable requirement for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and all Chinese people at home and abroad should join hands to oppose separatist forces seeking 'Taiwan independence' and work together for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the achievement of national reunification.

While presiding over the meeting, Wang Huning said that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech deeply commemorated Sun Yat-sen's immortal contributions to national independence, social progress and people's well-being; reviewed and summarized the great achievements created through the unremitting efforts of Chinese Communists, who inherited Sun Yat-sen's legacy and united and led people of all ethnic groups across the country; and set out clear requirements for studying, inheriting and carrying forward Sun Yat-sen's valuable spirit, inspiring all Chinese people to unite and strive to advance the cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. The speech called on compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and all Chinese people at home and abroad to work together for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the achievement of national reunification. Wang said the speech was highly political, ideological and instructive, and called for its thorough study, understanding and implementation, for closer unity around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and for building a powerful force in which all Chinese people share one aspiration and work with one heart to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee based in Beijing, vice chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, state councilors, the presidents of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and vice chairpersons of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference attended the meeting.

Approximately 3,000 people attended the meeting, including principal officials of central Party, government, military and mass organizations and of Beijing; heads of the central committees of the various democratic parties; leaders of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and representatives of non-party personages; members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and some deputies based in Beijing; members of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and some of its members based in Beijing; representatives of ethnic and religious circles and relevant social organizations; some foreign diplomatic envoys to China; representatives of Sun Yat-sen's relatives; representatives of people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas guests; representatives of people from all walks of life in the capital; and representatives of troops stationed in Beijing.

Before the commemorative meeting, Xi Jinping and others warmly met with representatives of Sun Yat-sen's relatives and overseas guests.