Chinese President Xi Jinping celebrated the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) 105-year legacy, calling its journey a defining chapter in the nation’s history. He urged Party members to remain united and committed to building a modern socialist China.
Speaking at a Beijing ceremony marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Xi stated that the Party’s century of achievements has fundamentally transformed the country and laid a solid foundation for China’s continued modernization.
Addressing over 3,000 delegates, Xi, who also serves as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, described the Party’s history as “the most magnificent epic” of the Chinese nation.
He said the CPC had grown from a small group of just over 50 members in 1921 to the world’s largest governing political party, now boasting nearly 101.3 million members and more than 5.43 million grassroots Party organizations.
Reflecting on the Party’s legacy, Xi highlighted its role in changing the destiny of the Chinese people by lifting hundreds of millions out of absolute poverty, transforming China into the world’s second-largest economy, and positioning the country among the world’s leading innovators in science and technology.
He also credited the Party with establishing the world’s largest education, healthcare, and social security systems, while increasing life expectancy to over 79 years.
Xi asserted that these achievements demonstrate the Party’s capacity for self-renewal, its close ties with the people, and its effective national leadership.
“The Party’s endeavors over the past 105 years have fundamentally transformed the future of the Chinese people, blazed the right path toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, demonstrated the strong vitality of Marxism, had a profound influence on the course of world history, and made the CPC a powerful Communist Party,” he said.
Looking ahead, Xi urged Party members to remain steadfast in pursuing China’s modernization agenda despite increasing global uncertainty.
“Time stops for no one, and neither does history,” he declared, calling on the Party to remain focused on achieving basic socialist modernization by 2035 and building China into a great modern socialist country by mid-century.
He stressed that the Party must continue to draw its strength from the people.
“The Party must rely closely on the people to create historic feats,” Xi said, urging members to “further reinvigorate the enterprising spirit for getting things done.”
The Chinese leader warned that China faces an increasingly complex external environment marked by rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
“China’s development is now in a period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and where uncertain and unpredictable factors are on the rise. We must always be prepared to withstand major tests of high winds and raging waves, and even violent storms,” he cautioned.
Xi stated that the changing global landscape underscores the need for China to continue promoting international cooperation and building what he described as “a community with a shared future for humanity.”
Domestically, he called for stricter Party discipline and renewed efforts to combat corruption, describing clean governance as critical to maintaining public confidence and ensuring the Party’s long-term vitality.
“It is imperative that all of us in the Party never forget our original aspiration and founding mission, that we always stay modest, prudent and hard-working, and that we have the courage and ability to carry on our fight,” he said.
Xi also reaffirmed the Party’s commitment to strengthening national defense by accelerating the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army ahead of its centenary in 2027.
He reiterated Beijing’s position on safeguarding China’s sovereignty, maintaining long-term stability in Hong Kong and Macao, and advancing national reunification.
During the ceremony, Xi presented the July 1 Medal, the CPC’s highest honor, to eight individuals recognized for outstanding contributions in fields including grassroots governance, healthcare, agriculture, engineering, and public service. Outstanding Party members, Party workers, and grassroots organizations from across China were also honored.
China’s top leadership, including members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the anniversary event, highlighting the political significance of the milestone as the Party charts the country’s next phase of modernization and national rejuvenation.
