XI: THROUGH NURTURING CULTURE OF REMEMBRANCE TO BRIGHTER FUTURE

BEIJING, OCTOBER 22 /SRNA/ – Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China could create a brighter future only by nurturing its culture of remembrance.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Red Army's Long March, Xi noted that the march had astonished the world and secured its place in history.

"The Red Army marched through more than ten Chinese provinces, covered over 12,500 kilometres, thwarted attempts by more than one million enemy troops to encircle and blockade it, successfully carried out the strategic relocation of the anti-Japanese movement to the north of the country, and opened a new chapter in the Chinese Revolution," Xi said.

He stressed that this revolutionary feat has great significance in the history of the Communist Party of China, the country and the military, and has a profound impact on the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

"This heroic epic will forever be engraved in the monuments of the Chinese Revolution and remembered in the hearts of all Chinese people," said Xi, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Speaking on behalf of the Party, the State Council, the Central Military Commission, the armed forces and all ethnic groups across the country, Xi paid tribute to revolutionary veterans, including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, who led the Red Army in creating the remarkable history of the Long March, as well as to its officers and soldiers.

He recalled that, from October 1934 to October 1936, the Communist Party of China led the First, Second and Fourth Front of the Red Army, as well as the 25th Corps, in the historic Long March.

Xi emphasized that revisiting history served to draw wisdom and strength for moving forward.

"Today, 90 years later, as we look back once again on that difficult yet glorious period, we understand even more deeply that victory in the Long March was inevitable and that it laid the path to victory along which the Communist Party of China and the People's Army resolutely advanced," Xi said.

He pointed out that the Party's leadership and Mao Zedong had played a decisive role in the Red Army's victory in the Long March.

"This path to great victory was forged through firm revolutionary will, self-reliance and independence, the pursuit of truth based on facts, and reliance on broad masses' support," Xi said.

He stressed that the broad masses would forever remain the source of strength and a firm support base for the Party and the People's Army.

"As long as we remain deeply rooted among the people and maintain close ties with the broad masses, the Party's cause will be invincible," Xi said.

He noted that the Long March was an important part of the spiritual heritage of Communists and a powerful driving force inspiring them to overcome difficulties and move forward courageously.

"Over the 90 years since the victory of the Long March, the Party has led the Chinese people through many great long marches during every historical period of revolution, construction and reform, achieving one major victory after another," Xi said.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xi said, socialism with Chinese characteristics had entered a new era.

"On this new journey, we are committed to building a modern socialist power in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through modernization," Xi said.

He stressed the need to consistently promote high-quality development, continuously meet the Chinese people's growing demand for a better life, achieve efficient improvements in quality and reasonable growth in the size of the economy, and promote prosperity for all citizens.

"We must accelerate the development of the People's Army into a world-class military, always maintain the Party's absolute leadership over the People's Army, achieve the centenary goal of the military formation, and advance the modernization of national defence and the armed forces," Xi said.

He emphasized the need to ensure that the Party remained firm core of socialism management with Chinese characteristics, China Media Group reported.