At the celebration of the Chinese Communist Party

Speech at the 100th Anniversary

(July 1, 2021)

Xi Jinping

Comrades, friends:

　　Today is a momentous and solemn day in the history of the Chinese Communist Party and in the history of the Chinese nation. We are gathered here today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party with all the people of all ethnic groups across the country, to review the glorious journey of the Chinese Communist Party's century-long struggle, and to look forward to the bright prospects of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

　　First of all, on behalf of the Party Central Committee, I would like to extend my warmest festive greetings to all members of the Chinese Communist Party!

　　Here, on behalf of the Party and the people, I solemnly declare that, through the continuous efforts of the Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country, we have achieved the first centenary goal, comprehensively built a moderately prosperous society in China, historically resolved the problem of absolute poverty, and are now striding towards the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country. This is the great glory of the Chinese nation! This is the great glory of the Chinese people! This is the great glory of the Chinese Communist Party!

　　Comrades, friends!

　　The Chinese nation is a great nation in the world, with a long and splendid civilization history of more than 5,000 years, and has made indelible contributions to the progress of human civilization. After the Opium War of 1840, China gradually became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, the country was humiliated, the people suffered, and the civilization was tarnished. The Chinese nation suffered unprecedented calamities. From then on, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation became the greatest dream of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.

　　In order to save the nation from peril, the Chinese people rose up in resistance, and people of insight ran around shouting, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, the Reform Movement of 1898, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Xinhai Revolution followed one after another, and various national salvation plans were put forward one after another, but all ended in failure. China urgently needed new ideas to lead the national salvation movement, and urgently needed a new organization to unite the revolutionary forces.

　　The October Revolution sounded a shot, bringing Marxism-Leninism to China. In the great awakening of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and in the close combination of Marxism-Leninism and the Chinese workers' movement, the Chinese Communist Party came into being. The emergence of the Communist Party of China is a great event that has profoundly changed the direction and process of the development of the Chinese nation since modern times, profoundly changed the future and destiny of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and profoundly changed the trend and pattern of world development.

　　Since its birth, the Chinese Communist Party has established its original aspiration and mission to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. For 100 years, all the struggles, sacrifices, and creations of the Chinese Communist Party in uniting and leading the Chinese people have come down to one theme: the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

　　——In order to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the Chinese Communist Party, uniting and leading the Chinese people, fought bloody battles and persevered, creating the great achievements of the New Democratic Revolution. We went through the Northern Expedition, the Land Revolution War, the War of Resistance Against Japan, and the War of Liberation, using armed revolution to oppose armed counter-revolution, overthrowing the three mountains of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, establishing the People's Republic of China where the people are masters of their own house, and achieving national independence and people's liberation. The victory of the New Democratic Revolution completely ended the history of the old China as a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, completely ended the situation of the old China being a loose sand, completely abolished the unequal treaties imposed on China by the powers and all the privileges of imperialism in China, and created the fundamental social conditions for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people, with their brave and tenacious struggle, solemnly declared to the world that the Chinese people have stood up, and the era when the Chinese nation was slaughtered and bullied is gone forever!

　　——In order to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the Chinese Communist Party, uniting and leading the Chinese people, relied on self-reliance and worked hard to create the great achievements of socialist revolution and construction. We carried out socialist revolution, eliminated the feudal exploitative and oppressive system that had lasted for thousands of years in China, established the basic socialist system, promoted socialist construction, overcame the subversive destruction and armed provocations of imperialism and hegemonism, achieved the most extensive and profound social transformation in the history of the Chinese nation, and achieved the great leap forward of a poor and backward, populous Eastern country into socialist society, laying the fundamental political prerequisites and institutional foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people, with their brave and tenacious struggle, solemnly declared to the world that the Chinese people are not only good at destroying an old world, but also good at building a new world, that only socialism can save China, and that only socialism can develop China!

　　——In order to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the Chinese Communist Party, uniting and leading the Chinese people, emancipated their minds and forged ahead, creating the great achievements of reform and opening up and socialist modernization. We achieved a great turning point of far-reaching significance in the history of the Party since the founding of New China, established the Party's basic line in the primary stage of socialism, unswervingly promoted reform and opening up, overcame risks and challenges from all sides, created, adhered to, defended, and developed Chinese-style socialism, achieved a historical transformation from a highly centralized planned economic system to a vibrant socialist market economic system, from a closed and semi-closed to an all-round open system, achieved a historical breakthrough from a relatively backward state of productivity to the second largest economy in the world, and achieved a historical leap from insufficient food and clothing to overall moderate prosperity and towards comprehensive moderate prosperity, providing a system guarantee full of new vitality and material conditions for rapid development for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people, with their brave and tenacious struggle, solemnly declared to the world that reform and opening up is the key move that determines the future and destiny of contemporary China, and that China has caught up with the times in great strides!

　　——In order to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the Chinese Communist Party, uniting and leading the Chinese people, has been confident and self-reliant, upholding the right principles and making innovations, taking charge of the great struggle, great project, great cause, and great dream, creating the great achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. We have adhered to and strengthened the Party's overall leadership, comprehensively promoted the overall layout of "five in one" and the strategic layout of "four comprehensives," adhered to and improved the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, promoted the modernization of the national governance system and capacity, adhered to governance according to law, and formed a relatively complete system of intra-Party regulations, overcoming a series of major risks and challenges, achieving the first centenary goal, and clarifying the strategic arrangements for achieving the second centenary goal. The Party and state's undertakings have achieved historic achievements and undergone historic changes, providing a more perfect institutional guarantee, a more solid material foundation, and more proactive spiritual strength for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people, with their brave and tenacious struggle, solemnly declared to the world that the Chinese nation has ushered in a great leap from standing up, getting rich, to becoming strong, and that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process!

　　For 100 years, the Chinese Communist Party, uniting and leading the Chinese people, with the dauntless spirit of "with so many sacrifices, there is much ambition, daring to make the sun and moon change the new sky," has written the most magnificent epic in the thousands of years of history of the Chinese nation. The great road opened up, the great cause created, and the great achievements made in this century will surely be recorded in the annals of the development of the Chinese nation and the annals of human civilization!

　　Comrades, friends!

　　One hundred years ago, the pioneers of the Chinese Communist Party founded the Chinese Communist Party and formed the great founding spirit of upholding truth, upholding ideals, practicing the original aspiration, shouldering the mission, fearing no sacrifice, bravely fighting, being loyal to the Party, and serving the people. This is the spiritual source of the Chinese Communist Party.

　　For a century, the Communist Party of China has upheld the great founding spirit of the Party, building a spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists and forging a distinct political character through long-term struggle. History flows ceaselessly, and the spirit is passed down from generation to generation. We must continue to carry forward glorious traditions, continue the red bloodline, and forever inherit and carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party!

　　Comrades, friends!

　　All the achievements we have made over the past century are the result of the united struggle of Chinese Communists, the Chinese people, and the Chinese nation. Chinese Communists, mainly represented by Comrade Mao Zedong, Comrade Deng Xiaoping, Comrade Jiang Zemin, and Comrade Hu Jintao, have established immortal and glorious achievements for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation! We express our highest respect to them!

　　At this moment, we deeply cherish the memory of the older generation of revolutionaries, including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Yun, who made significant contributions to China's revolution, construction, and reform, and to the establishment, consolidation, and development of the Communist Party of China. We deeply cherish the memory of the revolutionary martyrs who bravely sacrificed themselves for the establishment, defense, and construction of New China, those who bravely sacrificed themselves for reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and all the people of integrity and righteousness who fought valiantly for national independence and people's liberation since modern times. Their great achievements for the motherland and the nation will forever be recorded in history! Their lofty spirits will forever be remembered in the hearts of the people!

　　The people are the creators of history and the true heroes. On behalf of the Party Central Committee, I would like to express my highest respect to the working people, farmers, intellectuals, and people from all walks of life across the country; to members of various democratic parties and non-party affiliations, various people's organizations, and patriotic people from all walks of life; to officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army, armed police forces, public security officers, and fire rescue teams; to all socialist laborers; to the broad members of the united front; I extend sincere greetings to compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan, as well as to our overseas Chinese; and I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the people and friends of various countries who have maintained friendly relations with the Chinese people and have shown concern for and support to China's revolutionary, construction, and reform undertakings!

　　Comrades, friends!

　　It is easy to maintain the initial aspiration, but difficult to persevere. Learning from history, we can understand the rise and fall of dynasties. We must use history to illuminate reality and look to the future, to understand why we succeeded in the past and how we can continue to succeed in the future from the Communist Party of China's century-long struggle, so that we can be more determined and more conscious in remembering our original mission and creating a better future on the new journey.

　　——To learn from history and create the future, we must uphold the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China. The key to solving China's problems lies in the Party. The more than 180 years of history since the beginning of China's modern times, the 100 years since the founding of the Communist Party of China, and the more than 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China have all fully proved that without the Communist Party of China, there would be no New China, and there would be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. History and the people have chosen the Communist Party of China. The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the greatest advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, the fundamental and lifeline of the Party and the state, and the interests and destiny of all ethnic groups in the country.

　　On the new journey, we must uphold the Party's overall leadership, continuously improve the Party's leadership, enhance the "four consciousnesses," strengthen the "four confidences," and achieve the "two safeguards," keep in mind the "major matters of the state," continuously improve the Party's ability to govern scientifically, democratically, and according to law, and give full play to the Party's leading core role in overall planning and coordination!

　　——To learn from history and create the future, we must unite and lead the Chinese people to continuously strive for a better life. Mountains and rivers are the people, and the people are mountains and rivers. To win and defend the mountains and rivers is to defend the hearts of the people. The Communist Party of China is rooted in the people, its bloodline is in the people, and its strength is in the people. The Communist Party of China always represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people, shares weal and woe with the people, and has no special interests of its own. It never represents the interests of any interest group, any powerful group, or any privileged class. Any attempt to separate or oppose the Communist Party of China from the Chinese people will never succeed! More than 95 million members of the Communist Party of China will not agree! More than 1.4 billion Chinese people will not agree!

　　On the new journey, we must rely closely on the people to create history, uphold the fundamental purpose of wholeheartedly serving the people, stand firmly on the people's side, implement the Party's mass line, respect the people's pioneering spirit, practice the people-centered development philosophy, develop whole-process people's democracy, uphold social fairness and justice, focus on solving the problems of unbalanced and inadequate development and the urgent, difficult, and worrying problems of the people, and promote more significant and substantial progress in the all-round development of people and common prosperity for all people!

　　——To learn from history and create the future, we must continue to advance the Sinicization of Marxism. Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology for our Party and country, and it is the soul and banner of our Party. The Communist Party of China adheres to the basic principles of Marxism, upholds seeking truth from facts, proceeds from China's realities, observes the general trend of the times, grasps the initiative of history, conducts arduous exploration, and continuously promotes the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism to guide the Chinese people in continuously advancing the great social revolution. Why can the Communist Party of China succeed? Why is socialism with Chinese characteristics so good? Ultimately, it is because Marxism works!

　　On the new journey, we must adhere to Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of "Three Represents," the Scientific Outlook on Development, and fully implement the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must adhere to combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific realities and with excellent traditional Chinese culture, use Marxism to observe, grasp, and lead the times, and continue to develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism!

　　——To learn from history and create the future, we must uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics. Following our own path is the starting point of all the Party's theories and practices, and it is also the historical conclusion drawn from the Party's century-long struggle. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental achievement that the Party and the people have achieved after untold hardships and at great cost, and it is the correct path to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, promote the coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, spiritual civilization, social civilization, and ecological civilization, and have created a new path for Chinese-style modernization and a new form of human civilization.

　　On the new journey, we must uphold the Party's basic theories, basic line, and basic strategies, comprehensively promote the overall layout of "five-in-one" coordinated development, and comprehensively promote the strategic layout of "four comprehensives," comprehensively deepen reform and opening up, be based on the new stage of development, fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development concept, build a new development pattern, promote high-quality development, promote technological self-reliance and self-strengthening, ensure that the people are masters of their own affairs, uphold the rule of law, uphold the socialist core value system, uphold improving people's livelihood in development, uphold harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and work together to promote people's prosperity, national strength, and a beautiful China.

　　The Chinese nation possesses a splendid civilization formed over 5,000 years of historical evolution, and the Communist Party of China has the experience of a century of struggle and more than 70 years of governing and rejuvenating the country. We actively learn from and draw on all beneficial achievements of human civilization, and welcome all beneficial suggestions and constructive criticism, but we will never accept the condescending preaching of "teachers"! The Communist Party of China and the Chinese people will confidently stride forward on the path they have chosen, firmly grasping the destiny of China's development and progress in their own hands!

　　——To learn from history and create the future, we must accelerate the modernization of national defense and the military. A strong country must have a strong military, and a strong military ensures national security. Upholding the Party's command over the gun and building our own people's army is an unshakable truth that the Party has drawn from its struggle through blood and fire. The People's Liberation Army has established immortal achievements for the Party and the people, is a strong pillar in safeguarding the red regime and maintaining national dignity, and is also a powerful force in maintaining regional and world peace.

　　On this new journey, we must fully implement the Party's thinking on strengthening the military in the new era, implement the military strategic guidelines of the new era, uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the People's Liberation Army, adhere to the path of strengthening the military with Chinese characteristics, comprehensively promote political strengthening of the military, reform and strengthening of the military, technological strengthening of the military, talent strengthening of the military, and strengthening the military through the rule of law, building the People's Liberation Army into a world-class military, and defending national sovereignty, security, and development interests with even greater capabilities and more reliable means!

　　——Drawing lessons from history and creating the future, we must continuously promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Peace, harmony, and concord are concepts that the Chinese nation has pursued and inherited for over 5,000 years; the blood of the Chinese nation does not contain the genes of aggression and hegemony. The Communist Party of China cares about the future and destiny of humanity, and works hand in hand with all progressive forces in the world. China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and an upholder of the international order!

　　On this new journey, we must uphold the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win results, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, adhere to the path of peaceful development, promote the building of a new type of international relations, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and provide new opportunities for the world with China's new development. The Communist Party of China will continue to work with all peace-loving countries and peoples to promote the common values of all mankind—peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom—to uphold cooperation and oppose confrontation, to uphold openness and oppose closure, to uphold mutual benefit and win-win results and oppose zero-sum games, to oppose hegemonism and power politics, and to push the wheel of history forward towards a bright future!

　　The Chinese people are a people who uphold justice and are not afraid of violence, and the Chinese nation is a nation with a strong sense of national pride and confidence. The Chinese people have never bullied, oppressed, or enslaved the people of other countries; they have not done so in the past, they do not do so now, and they will not do so in the future. At the same time, the Chinese people will never allow any foreign forces to bully, oppress, or enslave us. Anyone who dares to try will surely be met with bloody noses and broken heads against the Great Wall of steel built by the blood and flesh of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people!

　　——Drawing lessons from history and creating the future, we must wage a great struggle with many new historical characteristics. Daring to struggle and daring to win are the powerful spiritual forces that make the Communist Party of China invincible. To realize the great dream requires tenacious struggle and unremitting efforts. Today, we are closer than ever before in history, and we have more confidence and ability to achieve the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. At the same time, we must be prepared to make even more arduous and difficult efforts.

　　On this new journey, we must enhance our awareness of potential dangers, always remain vigilant, implement the overall national security outlook, coordinate development and security, coordinate the overall strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the profound changes unseen in a century in the world, deeply understand the new characteristics and requirements brought about by the changes in the main contradictions in our society, deeply understand the new contradictions and challenges brought about by the complex international environment, dare to struggle, be good at struggling, forge ahead, overcome all risks and challenges!

　　——Drawing lessons from history and creating the future, we must strengthen the great unity of the sons and daughters of China. In the course of a century of struggle, the Communist Party of China has always placed the united front in an important position, continuously consolidating and developing the broadest united front, uniting all forces that can be united and mobilizing all positive factors that can be mobilized, to maximize the unity of common struggle. The patriotic united front is an important magic weapon for the Communist Party of China to unite all Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

　　On this new journey, we must adhere to great unity and great unity, adhere to the unity of consistency and diversity, strengthen ideological and political guidance, widely build consensus, gather talents from all over the world, strive to seek the greatest common divisor, draw the largest concentric circle, and form a vibrant situation where all Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad think and act together, gathering the tremendous strength to achieve national rejuvenation!

　　——Drawing lessons from history and creating the future, we must continuously advance the new great project of Party building. Daring to revolutionize itself is a significant mark that distinguishes the Communist Party of China from other political parties. Our Party has been tempered and remains vigorous, and a very important reason is that we have always adhered to the Party's governance of the Party and strict Party discipline, continuously responding to the risks and tests it faces in various historical periods, ensuring that our Party remains at the forefront of the times in the historical process of profound changes in the world situation, and remains the backbone of the people of the whole country in the historical process of responding to various risks and challenges at home and abroad!

　　On this new journey, we must keep in mind the principle that to forge steel, we must first strengthen ourselves, enhance our political consciousness that strict Party discipline is always on the road, take the Party's political construction as the leader, continue to advance the new great project of Party building in the new era, continuously strengthen the Party's organizational system, focus on building a high-quality team of cadres with both political integrity and ability, unswervingly advance Party conduct and integrity construction and anti-corruption efforts, resolutely eliminate all factors that harm the Party's advanced nature and purity, eliminate all viruses that erode the Party's healthy body, ensure that the Party does not change its nature, color, or flavor, and ensure that the Party remains a strong leading core in the historical process of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era!

　　Comrades, friends!

　　We must fully and accurately implement the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong," "Macao people administering Macao," and a high degree of autonomy, implement the central government's overall jurisdiction over the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, implement the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the Special Administrative Regions, safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, maintain social stability in the Special Administrative Regions, and maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao.

　　Resolving the Taiwan issue and achieving the complete reunification of the motherland is the unwavering historical mission of the Communist Party of China and the common aspiration of all Chinese sons and daughters. We must adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus and promote the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland. All Chinese sons and daughters, including compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, must work together in unity and move forward resolutely to crush any "Taiwan independence" plot and create a bright future for national rejuvenation. No one should underestimate the firm determination, firm will, and strong ability of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity!

　　Comrades, friends!

　　The future belongs to the youth, and hope rests with the youth. A hundred years ago, a group of new youths, holding high the torch of Marxist thought, searched tirelessly for the future of national rejuvenation in a dark and turbulent China. For a hundred years, under the banner of the Communist Party of China, generation after generation of Chinese youth have integrated their youthful struggles into the cause of the Party and the people, becoming the vanguard force in achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Chinese youth of the new era must take the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as their own responsibility, enhance their spirit, backbone, and confidence as Chinese people, live up to the times, live up to their youth, and live up to the ardent expectations of the Party and the people!

　　Comrades, friends!

　　A hundred years ago, when the Communist Party of China was founded, it had only more than 50 members. Today, it has become the world's largest ruling party, with more than 95 million members, leading a large country with a population of more than 1.4 billion, and having a significant global influence.

　　A hundred years ago, the image presented to the world by the Chinese nation was one of decline and decay. Today, the Chinese nation presents to the world a vibrant scene, striding forward towards great rejuvenation with an unstoppable momentum.

　　Over the past hundred years, the Communist Party of China has delivered an excellent answer sheet to the people and to history. Now, the Communist Party of China, together with the Chinese people, has embarked on a new journey of striving for the second centenary goal.

　　To all members of the Communist Party of China! The Party Central Committee calls on you to remember your original aspiration and mission, strengthen your ideals and beliefs, practice the Party's purpose, always maintain close ties with the people, always think and work together with the people, share weal and woe through thick and thin, and continue to strive tirelessly to achieve the people's aspirations for a better life, and strive for greater glory for the Party and the people!

　　Comrades, friends!

　　The Communist Party of China is committed to the great cause of the Chinese nation for generations to come, and a century is just the beginning of its prime! Looking back at the past and looking forward to the future, with the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and the close unity of all ethnic groups in the country, the goal of building a socialist modern powerful country will surely be achieved, and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will surely be achieved!

　　Long live the great, glorious, and correct Communist Party of China!

　　Long live the great, glorious, and heroic Chinese people!