Xi speaks on the centenary of the Communist Party

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Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during celebrations of the centenary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on July 1, 2021.

Wang Chao | AFP | Getty Images

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday spoke of China’s firm resolve to stand up to external pressures while outlining national aspirations at the centenary of the founding of China’s ruling Communist Party.

Xi said, according to an official translation of his Mandarin notes, that China would not accept “the breathless preaching of those who feel they have the right to lecture us.” He did not mention a specific country, amid rising tensions with the United States

China will never allow any foreign power to dominate it, Xi said, and anyone who tries to do so “will find themselves bumping into a great wall of steel made by more than 1.4 billion people.”

“A century ago, China was retreating and withering in the eyes of the world,” he said. “Today, the image you present to the world is that of a thriving nation, advancing with an unstoppable momentum toward renewal.”

Looking ahead, Xi spoke of cooperation with “peace-loving countries”, party building and work for “national renewal”. He also spoke in general about “strategic steps” towards the “second centenary goal”.

China’s two centenary goals are to “build a moderately prosperous society in all respects” by 2021 and to “build a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious” by 2049, the centenary of the People’s Republic of China.

Students wave Chinese flags before celebrating the centenary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on July 1, 2021.

Wang Chao | AFP | Getty Images

Xi’s speech lasted just over an hour, and focused mostly on a historical account of the Chinese Communist Party’s successful role in the country’s history since the 19th century.

Xi became official chairman in 2013 and also holds the highest political position as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. He abolished state lines in 2018, effectively allowing him to remain president for life.

As of June 5, state media said there were 95.148 million members of the Chinese Communist Party, an increase of 3.234 million from the end of 2019. And more than 12 million, or about 13%, were aged 30 or younger.

Joining the party is encouraged from an early age, although the joining process is very selective. Many senior positions, even in private companies, often require party membership.

The official version acknowledges July 1, 1921 as the founding date of the party, although the exact date may be slightly different. The meeting of delegates, including future leader Mao Zedong, came nearly 30 years before the Chinese Communist Party fought with Japan, and then the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), to become the ruling party of the People’s Republic of China.

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