Day to cherish at start of new journey

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stands at the Tian'anmen Rostrum in Beijing for the grand ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC, where he delivered an important speech on Thursday morning. LI XUEREN/XINHUA

CPC 'was chosen by history and the people', Xi says at grand gathering in Beijing celebrating centenary of Party's founding

China's national rejuvenation has become a historical inevitability, and the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people will walk along the path of their own choice to ensure the nation's destiny remains firmly in their own hands, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Xi, who is also China's president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a grand gathering in Beijing in celebration of the centenary of the Party's founding.

Speaking from the Tian'anmen Rostrum, where Mao Zedong announced the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1, 1949, Xi announced that China has accomplished the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the first centenary goal the nation has set for its long-term development.

"This means that we have brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China, and we are now marching in confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects," Xi said.

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The ceremony progresses at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Thursday. LIU JINHAI/XINHUA

While reviewing the CPC's century-old history and its significant role in rallying and leading the Chinese people to secure victories in revolution, construction and reform, he stressed the Party's commitment to achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Resolving the Taiwan question to realize China's complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the Party as well as the shared aspiration of all the Chinese people, Xi said, adding that resolute actions must be taken to defeat any attempt at "Taiwan independence", and to create a bright future for national rejuvenation.

"No one should underestimate the resolve, the will, and the ability of the Chinese people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

Xi called on the whole Party to take history as a mirror, stay true to the Party's founding aspirations and mission and uphold the people-centered philosophy to create a brighter future in the new era.

Calling the people "true heroes, for it is they who create history", he said that the people are all that matters.

The CPC has always represented the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people, Xi said, and any attempt to divide the Party from the people or to set the people against the Party is bound to fail.

"The more than 95 million Party members and the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people will never allow such a scenario to come to pass."

He underlined the need to wholeheartedly serve the people, stick to the people-centered development philosophy, promote people's democracy and uphold social fairness and justice.[page]

Military aircraft form the number 100 as they fly in formation over Tian'anmen Square ahead of the grand gathering to celebrate the Communist Party of China's centenary in Beijing on Thursday. ZHANG CHEN/XINHUA

Priority should be given to addressing imbalances and inadequacies in development as well as the most pressing difficulties and problems that are of great concern to the people, Xi said, adding that efforts should be made to achieve notable and substantial progress in promoting well-rounded human development and common prosperity for all.

He stressed the importance of continuing to adapt Marxism to the Chinese context as well as upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. "At the fundamental level, the capability of our Party and the strengths of socialism with Chinese characteristics are attributable to the fact that Marxism works."

Noting that the nation stands ready to learn from the achievements of other cultures and also welcomes helpful suggestions and constructive criticism, Xi said, "We will not, however, accept sanctimonious preaching from those who feel they have the right to lecture us."

"We will make sure the destiny of China's development and progress remains firmly in our own hands," he added.

Xi underscored upholding the Party's overall leadership, saying that China's success hinges on the Party. "The Party was chosen by history and the people. The leadership of the Party is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and constitutes the greatest strength of this system."[page]

Young people wave national flags and Party flags to celebrate the centenary of the Communist Party of China at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Thursday. SHEN HONG/XINHUA

In terms of the nation's development on the new journey ahead, Xi emphasized the need to deepen reform and opening-up across the board, fully and faithfully implement the new development philosophy, foster a new development paradigm, promote high-quality growth and build up the country's strength in science and technology.

He also warned against challenges and risks facing the Party, particularly due to complex changes in the international landscape, and called for efforts to coordinate development and security imperatives.

Saying that the characteristic that distinguishes the CPC from other political parties is its courage to reform itself, Xi called for continuing to strengthen Party building.

"We must tighten the Party's organizational system, work hard to train high-caliber officials who have both moral integrity and professional competence, remain committed to improving Party conduct, upholding integrity, and combating corruption, and root out any elements that would harm the Party's advanced nature and purity and any viruses that would erode its health," Xi said.

"We must ensure that the Party preserves its essence, color and character, and see that it always serves as the strong leadership core in the course of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era."