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95 years on, CPC epic continues

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and other senior leaders award certificates to outstanding individuals and representatives of outstanding units at a rally marking the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, July 1, 2016.

As the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrates its 95th birthday, Party members have been urged to be motivated, self-disciplined, confident, and – most importantly – loyal to the CPC mission.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, also Chinese president, delivered a keynote speech at a grand gathering in Beijing on July 1, calling on his 88.758 million comrades to uphold the fighting spirit of the Party's founding members and their commitment to the people.

In fact, the Party’s 95th anniversary was more than a celebration. It was also a reflection of how far it has come and how it should navigate through the future.

Looking back

"One who wants to move ahead should not forget the path that was trodden. No matter how far we travel and how our bright future is, we should not forget what we have done and why we set out to do it," Xi said at the rally.

In its 95-year history, three generations of CPC central leadership have led the Party and the country to overcome numerous difficulties and challenges, Xi recalled before highlighting three major accomplishments the Party has achieved.

The first is that it led the Chinese people to revolution, which in turn led to national independence and the founding of the People's Republic of China. The revolution also ended the country's semi-feudal and semi-colonial status and brought about a historic transformation from a feudal autocracy to a "people's democracy."

The second is that the CPC established a socialist system after the revolution, laying a solid foundation for the country to move towards prosperity.

The third is that the Party carried out a "new great revolution" of reform and opening up, bringing about a notable increase in the country's economic and national strength.

Without the leadership of a party equipped with advanced theories and strong commitment and dedication, the Chinese nation would not have been able to change its state of oppression and enslavement and the country would not have become united and prosperous, Xi said.

China should therefore adhere to the leadership of the CPC and never stray away from socialism with Chinese characteristics, he concluded.

Members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) recite the oath to join the CPC at the site where the CPC held its first national congress in Shanghai, July 1, 2016. The site reopened to the public after a major refurbishment and expansion on July 1, the 95th anniversary of the Party's founding.

Looking forward

"We do not intend to seek comfort from our success nor to bury our heads in the past to avoid facing today's challenges and problems," Xi told the attendees.

Noting that it is a long and tough mission to develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi urged the whole Party to be prepared to face challenges and risks, remove barriers and solve problems.

The CPC must continue improving itself if it is to remain in power. Xi demanded that Party members uphold political integrity, keep the bigger picture in mind and act consistently with CPC Central Committee policy.

He also vowed to continue the fight against corruption, which he deemed "the biggest threat to the ruling party.” After more than three years of hitting "tigers" and swatting "flies," parlance for high-ranking officials and low-ranking bureaucrats, respectively, the anti-corruption drive is gaining momentum.

"We will maintain our zero-tolerance attitude toward corruption and look into every case involving corruption," Xi said.

Development is a top priority for the Party, Xi stated while calling for intensified efforts in supply-side structural reform. He also emphasized the fight against poverty, vowing to bring more benefits from reform and to ensure that development fairly benefits everyone.

Xi also demanded that the whole Party strengthen confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics while adapting Marxist principles to China’s current realities.

Xi also vowed that China would not resort to the threat of force nor flaunt its military power, pledging that China will work with people of all countries to push world order and global governance system toward a more just and reasonable direction.

The CPC's approach to the world

Striking a chord

Li Junru, former vice president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said that he was impressed by Xi's call to "stay true to the mission and keep striving forward."

"The decline of a party always starts with a fading of faith, and it is important to keep faith in mind," Li said.

"The fundamental role the CPC has played in guiding the Chinese people through reform and opening up is undeniable," noted Jose Ramon Machado, the second secretary of Cuba's Communist Party.

The Party can always surpass its past successes because it can use new thoughts and new strategies as powerful ideological weapons, unite and lead Chinese people from all ethnic groups and vigorously advance its undertakings in various fields, analyzed Vichian Piakhong, vice president of the Thai Young Chinese Chamber of Commerce.